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rne^MuMre/f.iini.  mitt 


THE  HUNTINGDON  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 


IS.  I S  T  O  IR«  "X" 


-7 

The  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon ; 


BY 

WILLIAM     J.    GIBSON,    D.D., 

PASTOR  OF  DTJNCANSVILLE  AND  MARTINSBURG  CHURCHES, 


BELLEFONTE,    PA.: 

BELLEFONTE   PKESS  COMPANY   PRINT, 

1874. 


PREFACE 


The  history  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  was  suggested  more  by 
circumstances  of  a  personal  character  than  of  public  consideration.  The 
histories  of  other  Presbyteries  have  been  written,  which  have  not  had  so 
long  an  existence,  or  more  important  events  to  record.  It  is  proper  at  once 
to  state,  that  no  person  is  responsible  for  this  history  but  the  writer,  though 
he  has  received  material  aid  in  preparing  it  from  some  of  the  brethren  of 
the  Presbytery,  with  others  of  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland,  which 
was  formed  of  members  originally  belonging  to  the  Presbytery  of  Hunt- 
ingdon. For  the  historical  part  proper,  the  dependence  has  mainly  been 
upon  the  Records  of  the  Presbytery.  External  aid  has  been  chiefly  in  the 
biographical  part  of  the  work.  The  names  of  all  the  brethren  by  whom  I 
have  been  encouraged  and  favored  with  valuable  help,  are  too  numerous  to 
mention.  But  I  cannot  forbear  in  this  connection  acknowledging  my  obli- 
gations to  Dr.  Robert  Hamill,  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Presbytery,  and 
also  Rev.  Andrew  D.  Mitchell,  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Carlisle,  and  the  Rev.  William  Simonton,  of  the  Presbytery  of  Northum- 
berland. When  indebted  to  others  for  biographical  sketches,  and  other 
service,  the  names  are  usually  appended. 

The  question,  how  far  the  truth  of  history  requires  the  exposure  to 
public  view  of  the  frailties  and  sins  of  those  who  have  been  members  of  the 
Presbytery,  has  been  embarrassing  and  difficult  of  solution.  It  could  not 
be  expected  that  in  the  history  of  nearly  three-quarters  of  a  century,  there 
would  be  found  no  blots  or  scandals  among  the  members  of  the  Presbytery. 
If  no  mention  were  made  of  these,  and  a  perfectly  unstained  record  only 
appear,  it  might  have  the  appearance  more  of  a  eulogy  than  of  an  impar- 
tial history.  Whatever  may  be  justly  said  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  it 
cannot  be  denied  that  she  has  ever  been  distinguished  in  maintaining  purity 
in  morals,  and  orthodoxy  in  doctrine  in  her  ministry  and  members.  And 
it  is  a  well  known  fact,  that  it  is  more  difficult  to  get  into  the  ministry 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  than  that  of  almost  any  other  known  denomi- 
nation. But  subjects  of  discipline  among  the  members  of  the  Presbytery 
have  been  few  and  far  between,  and  almost  every  case  originating  out  of 
the  pernicious  social  customs  of  the  times  in  which  they  lived. 

The  history  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  is  necessarily,  in  part,  a 
history  of  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland.     The  first  sixteen  years  of 


its  existence  it  covered  ail  the  territory  now  occupied  by  both  Presbyteries. 
At  the  division  in  1811,  some  of  the  most  venerable  members  of  the 
Presbytery  were  set  off  to  the  new  organization.  In  view  of  this  it  seemed 
proper,  as  it  was  a  great  pleasure,  to  include  in  this  history  a  sketch  of  the 
lives  of  those  excellent  fathers,  though  they  were  not  members  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  at  the  time  of  their  death.  To  this  end  applica- 
tion was  made  to  the  descendants  of  those  venerable  men.  Hence  our 
obligations  to  Kev.  Dr.  Isaac  Grier,  Rev.  Jko.  P.  Hudson,  and  the  Rev. 
William  Simonton,  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland. 

The  original  design  was  principally  to  rescue  from  oblivion  the  names  of 
the  original  members  of  the  Presbytery,  whose  labors  were  so  abundant, 
and  whose  trials  and  disadvantages  were,  so  great.  In  addition  to  the 
extensive  fields  which  they  had  to  cultivate,  the  want  of  suitable  church 
buildings  in  which  they  had  to  minister,  added  greatly  to  their  discomfort, 
which  they  shared  in  common  with  the  people.  The  first  churches  were 
built  of  unhewn  logs,  without  any  plastering,  sometimes  without  any  floor, 
and  always  without  fire.  In  the  coldest  season  of  the  year,  the  minister 
had  to  preach  and  the  people  to  hear,  with  their  overcoats  buttoned  up  to 
their  chin,  and  seldom  was  the  sermon  less  than  an  hour  and  a  half,  and 
often  much  longer.  Instead  of  the  cushioned  pews  of  these  days,  slab-stools 
without  any  support  to  the  back,  and  sometimes  not  even  these,  were  the 
only  sitting  accommodations.  In  one  instance,  of  which  we  have  been 
informed,  the  congregation  sat  usually  upon  the  sleepers  on  which  the  floor 
was  afterwards  laid,  with  their  feet  dangling  to  the  ground.  Our  modern 
congregations  with  their  expensive  churches,  luxuriously  cushioned  pews, 
multiplied  heaters,  and  half-hour  sermons,  could  they  be  transported  back 
to  those  primitive  times,  might  sooner  renounce  their  faith  in  the  gospel 
than  submit  to  so  much  self-denial  in  the  profession  of  it.  But  to  those 
hardy  gospel-loving  people,  a  hardy  God-fearing  race  of  ministers  preached, 
who  expected  to  "  endure  hardness  as  good  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Let  their  ashes  rest  in  peace,  till  they  rise  in  glory  in  the  general  resur- 
rection morn. 

Duncansville,  May  20,  1874. 


PART  I. 


CHAPTER  I. 


INTRODUCTORY. 

SEVERAL  histories  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States,  in  whole  or  in  part,  have  been  written,  and  by  the  most 
competent  persons.  We  have  been  favored  with  the  Constitutional 
History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  by  Dr.  Hodge  of  Princeton ;  and 
the  history  of  the  church  by  the  Rev.  Richard  Webster.  The  former 
is  the  history  of  the  church  from  its  formal  organization  by  the  con- 
stitution of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  in  1705  to  1741,  when  the 
great  schism  occurred.  The  latter  is  the  history  of  the  church  from 
its  origin  until  the  year  1760.  No  doubt  Mr.  Webster's  history  would 
have  been  brought  down  to  a  much  later  period  of  the  church,  had 
not  his  life  been  cut  short  in  the  midst  of  his  labors.  Dr.  C.  Van 
Rensselaer,  who  wrote  a  brief  Memoir  of  the  author,  says  in  reference 
to  his  history,  as  published  under  his  supervision:  "Another  remark 
I  make  here  respecting  his  work  is,  that  it  only  professes  to  give  the 
early  portion  of  the  history  of  our  church.  The  period  embraced  in 
the  present  volume  is  a  little  more  than  half  a  century,  and  is  limited 
to  the  reunion  of  the  Synods  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  in  1758. 
The  reader,  therefore,  must  not  expect  to  find  a  complete  history  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States.  The  early  portion, 
which  is  exceedingly  rich  in  events  and  in  illustrious  men,  possesses  a 
peculiar  interest ;  and  this  is  the  portion  comprehended  within  the 
scope  of  Mr.  Webster's  researches."  There  is,  therefore,  much  left 
by  Dr.  Hodge  and  Mr.  Webster  for  the  future  historian. 

Much  complaint  has  been  made  by  all  writers  on  the  history  of  the 
church,  because  of  the  loss  or  obscurity  of  records,  and  that  important 
facts  and  incidents  have  been  buried  with  those  who  had  cognizance 
of  them,  and  might  have  perpetuated  them  by  a  permanent  record. 
And  this  with  respect  to  all  the  Synods  and  Presbyteries,  in  all  parts 
of  the  church.  And  this  has  followed  naturally  from  a  want  of 
consideration  in  regard  to  the  great  interest  which  future  genera- 
tions would  undoubtedly  take  in  the  events  pertaining  to  the  lives  of 
the  fathers,  and  these  venerable  personages  themselves.     Important 


8  HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON. 

events,  sufficiently  known  and  interesting  to  those  then  living  and 
acting,  have  been  buried  by  the  lapse  of  time  beyond  the  hope  of  a 
resurrection.  Several  writers  have  of  late  endeavored  to  gather 
together  and  place  on  permanent  record  the  facts  of  history  that  may 
yet  remain  in  various  parts  of  the  church ;  but  have  had  much  occa- 
sion to  complain  of  insufficient  Presbyterial  and  Congregational 
records.  Especially  with  regard  to  the  latter  cause  of  complaint,  the 
writer,  in  entering  on  the  history  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon, 
has  been  much  embarrassed.  Some  very  worthy  and  excellent  at- 
tempts have  been  made  by  late  writers  in  various  parts  of  the  church 
to  snatch  from  oblivion  much  local  history  of  Presbyteries  and 
churches,  and  with  eminent  success.  Such  has  been  the  history  of 
Old  Redstone,  by  the  late  Rev.  Joseph  Smith,  D.  D.,  and  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Erie,  by  the  Rev.  S.  J.  M.  Eaton,  D.  D. 

The  writer  of  the  History  of  Huntingdon  Presbytery  cannot  hope 
to  equal  their  success  in  the  execution  of  his  purpose.  The  fathers  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  have  left  but  few  written  memorials 
behind  them.  They  were  not  writers,  but  workers,  and  with  such  a 
wide  and  extended  district  of  country  as  was  originally  compre- 
hended within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  to  be  cultivated,  and 
the  few  there  were  to  cultivate  it,  they  had  no  time  to  write  and 
record,  apart  from  the  claims  of  present  duty. 

The  history  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  is  the  history  of  its 
original  and  deceased  members,  at  least  in  part ;  therefore  the  utmost 
efforts  have  been  made,  consistent  with  circumstances,  to  collect 
materials  to  give  reliable  sketches  of  the  lives  of  these  fathers  and 
brethren.  With  regard  to  the  churches,  and  the  dates  of  their  first 
organization,  in  many  instances  the  writer  has  been  unable  to  obtain 
any  certain  dates ;  and  this  has  been  especially  the  case  with  refer- 
ence to  the  first  churches  sujjplied  by  the  original  members  of  the 
Presbytery.  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  most  of  them  were 
organized  years  anterior  to  the  formation  of  the  Presbytery ;  and 
some  had  no  formal  organization  at  all,  at  least  none  that  could  have 
been  of  record.  The  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  covered  a  district  of 
country  lying  in  the.  very  centre  of  the  State,  between  what  was  then 
known  as  the  great  west  and  the  east ;  and  as  the  population  pressed 
from  the  East  to  the  West,  settlements  were  formed  at  various  sup- 
posed desirable  points  in  the  centre.  Here  Presbyterians  were  found 
scattered  among  various  communities,  and  sometimes  forming  the 
vast  majority  of  these  settlements.     They  brought  with  them  their 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  9 

Bible,  Confession  of  Faith,  Psalm  or  Hymn  Book — but  most  generally 
the  Psalm  Book  in  Rouse's  version — and  their  love  of  the  church  of 
their  fathers.  But  ministers  to  preach  the  gospel  and  administer  the 
ordinances  were  few  in  comparison  with  the  number  of  the  settlements 
and  points  to  be  supplied ;  it  was  therefore  but  natural,  and  in  many 
instances  a  matter  of  necessity,  that  these  scattered  Presbyterians, 
who  were  "as  sheep  without  a  shepherd"  in  the  wilderness,  should 
voluntarily  band  themselves  together  under  the  lead  of  their  princi- 
pal men,  who  acted  as  elders,  without  any  formal  ordination,  and  the 
congregation  without  any  formal  organization.  And  those  acting  in 
the  capacity  of  elders  were,  ordinarily,  what  the  name  imports,  (pres- 
buteroi,)  the  aged  men  of  the  various  societies.  Some  aged  and  godly 
men  would  first  call  the  people  together  in  social  meetings  for  prayer 
and  praise,  and  out  of  these  sprang  the  larger  gatherings.  In  this 
state  the  first  ministers  and  missionaries  found  them ;  and  without  at 
all  disturbing  their  voluntary  organizations,  proceeded  to  preach  the 
word  and  administer  ordinances  to  them.  And  who,  at  this  late  day, 
will  censure  them,  though  there  was  no  formal  organization  of  con- 
gregations, and  therefore  none  to  be  recorded.  The  thing  was  there ; 
God  approved  and  blessed  his  people  by  sending  to  them  in  due  time 
the  living  minister,  with  the  ordinances  which  He  is  accustomed  to 
bless  to  increase  in  numbers  and  in  grace.  No  doubt  the  best  elders 
the  church  has  ever  had,  came  into  office  in  this  way ;  godly  men,  to 
whom  their  co-worshippers  voluntarily  submitted.  But  it  leaves  us 
with  inability  to  give  date  or  history  of  the  organization  of  many 
churches. 

As  the  church  in  general,  and  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  in 
particular,  has  been  much  indebted  to  the  faithful  eldership  for  her 
peace  and  purity,  it  is  the  design  to  gather  and  preserve  such  memo- 
rials of  deceased  elders  of  the  Presbytery  as  the  materials  placed 
within  reach  may  render  possible.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  not  only 
the  first  and  original  elders  of  the  congregations  at  the  time  of  the 
organization  of  the  Presbytery  have  passed  away,  but  the  generation 
succeeding  them  having  also  passed  away,  their  grand- children  know 
little  about  them  but  their  names.  But  something  is  known  about 
elders  of  later  date,  worthy  sons  of  venerable  sires,  who  have  stood 
in  their  lot  in  days  of  the  Church's  trials.  The  names  and  deeds  of 
some  of  these  shall  be  recorded,  so  far  as  space  and  means  shall 
permit. 


CHAPTER  II. 


FROM  THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  PRESBYTERY  IN  1795  TILL  THE  YEAR  1800. 

The  formation  of  the  Presbytery — The  first  Moderator — Rules  of 'Order — The  extent  of  its  Ter- 
ritory— The  Pastoral  Charges  of  the  original  members — The  Missionary  Fund— Action  of 
Presbytery  in  relation  to  Aged  and  Invalid  Ministers,  and  the  Families  of  Deceased  Minis- 
ters— Committee  appointed  to  examine  the  Credentials  of  Traveling  Ministers— The  first 
Candidate  for  the  Ministry — First  Death — Resignations — Salaries — The  first  Stated  Clerk — 
The  first  Commissioners  to  the  General  Assembly — No  Alternates  to  the  Elders  appointed — 
Presbyterial  Meetings — The  second  Candidate,  and  the  first  Licensed — Mr.  S.  Bryson  Called, 
Settled,  Resigns,  Cited,  Tried,  and  Suspended — Salaries — Prudence  in  settling  controversies 
in  regard  to  salaries — Attendance  on  Meetings  of  the  Presbytery — Reference  from  Pine 
Creek. 

THE  ministers  who  were  constituted  into  the  Presbytery  of  Hun- 
tingdon, originally  belonged  to  and  formed  a  part  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Carlisle. 

The  Presbytery  was  formed  by  the  direct  action  of  the  General 
Assembly,  but  not  without  the  concurrence  of  the  Synod.  An  over- 
ture was  laid  before  the  Assembly  through  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia, 
requesting  the  division  of  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle. 

The  following  is  the  record  of  the  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  in 
accordance  with  which  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  was  organized  : 

"The  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  United 
States  in  America,  having  erected  such  of  the  members  of  the  Carlisle 
Presbytery  as  were  situated  North  of,  or  by  a  line  drawn  along  the 
Juniata  river,  from  the  mouth  up  to  the  Tuscarora  mountain,  and 
along  the  Tuscarora  to  the  head  of  the  Path  Valley ;  thence  Westerly 
to  the  Eastern  Boundary  of  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  so  on  to 
leave  the  congregation  of  Bedford  to  the  South,  into  a  Presbytery  by 
the  name  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon;  and  appointed  their  first 
meeting  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  April,  A.  D.,  1795,  to  be  held  at 
Mr.  Martin's  Church  in  Penns  Valley ;  in  consequence  of  this  act  of 
the  General  Assembly,  the  Presbyteiy  of  Huntingdon  met  at  the 
place  and  the  day  aforesaid. 

Constituted  with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  John  Hoge,  after  he  had 
preached  from  John  1 :  12,  he  being  appointed  by  the  General 
Assembly  to  preside  until  a  Moderator  was  chosen. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  1] 

The  following  ministers  and  elders  were  present  at  the  organization 
and  first  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  :  Rev.  John  Hoge,  James  Martin, 
Hugh  Magill,  Matthew  Stephen,  Hugh  Morrison,  John  Bryso.v, 
Isaac  Grier,  and  James  Johnston;  with  the  elders  John  Watson, 
Walter  Clark,  Robert  Smith,  and  William  Hammond.  Mr.  Hoge 
was  chosen  the  first  Moderator,  and  Mr.  James  Johnston,  Clerk." 

The  first  business  attended  to  by  the  Presbytery  was  the  adoption 
of  rules  for  the  transaction  of  business;  thirteen  in  number,  and  very 
much  the  same  in  substance  as  now  govern  all  Church  courts  in  the 
transaction  of  business.  No  doubt  they  were  copied  from  rules 
adopted  by  the  General  Assembly,  so  far  as  applicable  to  presbyterial 
business. 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  act  of  the  Assembly  constituting  the  Presby- 
tery, that  it  covered  a  large  district  of  country  in  the  interior  of 
Pennsylvania.  There  are  now  no  less  than  fifteen  counties  embraced 
within  the  original  bounds  of  the  Presbytery,  viz :  part  of  Perry 
county,  and  all  of  Juniata,  Mifflin,  Huntingdon,  Blair,  Centre, 
Clinton,  Lycoming,  Northumberland,  Snyder,  Union,  Columbia,  Clear- 
field, Montour,  and  part  of  Cambria.  In  all  these  bounds  there  were 
only  eleven  ministers,  the  eight  who  were  present  and  enrolled  on  the 
first  day,  and  three  who  were  absent,  namely  :  Messrs.  David  Bard, 
David  Wiley  and  John  Johnston.  On  the  second  day  of  the  sessions 
of  the  Presbytery  Mr.  Wiley  appeared,  with  his  elder,  David  Van- 
dyke, and  were  enrolled;  also  Robert  Riddle,  Esq.,  a  member  of  the 
Session  of  Shaver's  Creek  congregation. 

The  following  are  the  pastoral  relations  of  the  original  members  of 
the  Presbytery,  who  sustained  pastoral  charges  at  the  time  of  the 
organization,  so  far  as  can  be  gathered  from  the  minutes.  But  it  is  to 
be  remembered  that  besides  the  pastoral  charges  in  which  they  were 
formally  installed,  these  ministers  had  various  points  which  they 
statedly  supplied,  within  what  was  considered  the  bounds  of  their 
respective  charges ;  for  congregational  limits  were  then  very  much 
extended,  and  several  congregations  and  pastoral  charges  now  exist 
within  the  bounds  of  what  was  then  a  single  charge. 

The  Rev.  John  Hoge  seems  to  have  had  no  particular  pastoral 
charge,  but  as  an  evangelist,  or  presbyterial  missionary,  supplied 
vacancies  as  providence  opened  the  way,  or  Presbytery  appointed. 
The  only  record  made  in  the  minutes  concerning  him  even  in  the 
capacity  of  a  Stated  Supply,  is  the  application  of  Briar  Creek  to  have 
him  appointed  as  their  supply  for  one-third  of  his  time;  which  request 


12  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON. 

was  granted.  On  all  other  occasions,  at  least  with  few  exceptions,  in 
the  record  of  supplies,  Mr.  Hoge  is  appointed  to  supply  vacancies  at 
discretion.  He  was  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly  to  preside 
and  open  the  Presbytery  at  its  first  meeting  to  organize,  probably 
because  he  was  the  oldest  member  of  the  Presbytery  at  the  time ;  or 
present  as  a  commissioner  in  the  General  Assembly  when  the  Presby- 
tery was  constituted. 

Eev.  James  Martin,  the  second  on  the  roll,  was  the  pastor  of  East 
and  West  Penns  Valley,  Warrior's  Mark  and  Half  Moon.  Hugh 
Magill,  pastor  of  Lower  Tuscarora  and  Cedar  Spring.  Eev.  Matthew 
Stephen,  at  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery,  was  not  an  installed 
pastor,  but  held  a  call  from  Upper  and  Centre  congregations  in 
Wayne  township,  Mifflin  county,  which  he  had  accepted ;  but  at  the 
meeting  of  Huntingdon  Presbytery,  October  6,  1795,  requested  leave 
to  return  the  call,  not  having  been  installed. 

Eev.  Hugh  Morrison  was  the  pastor  of  Buffalo,  Sunbury  and 
Northumberland. 

Eev.  John  Bryson,  pastor  of  Chilisquaque  and  AVarrior  Eun. 

Eev.  Isaac  Grier,  pastor  of  Pine  Creek,  Lycoming  and  Great  Island. 

Eev.  James  Johnston,  pastor  of  East  Kishacoquillas,  and  Stated 
Supply  of  West  Kishacoquillas. 

Eev.  John  Johnston,  pastor  of  Hart's  Log  and  Huntingdon. 

Eev.  David  Wiley,  pastor  of  Cedar  Creek  and  Spring  Creek. 

Eev.  David  Bard,  pastor  of  Frankstown  congregation,  now  known 
as  the  congregation  of  Hollidaysburg. 

It  is  worthy  of  notice,  that  after  organization  of  the  Presbytery, 
and  the  adoption  of  standing  rules  for  the  transaction  of  business,  the 
first  business  taken  up  was  the  consideration  of  a  recommendation  of 
the  General  Assembly  respecting  contributions  to  the  missionary 
fund ;  and  finding  that  few  of  the  members  had  paid  due  attention 
thereto,  it  was  strictly  enjoined  on  all  the  members  to  be  attentive  to 
that  business  ;  and  either  convey  their  contributions  to  the  Treasurer 
of  Presbytery,  or  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  General  Assembly  at  their 
next  meeting.  Eev.  James  Johnston  had  been  appointed  Treasurer 
of  the  Presbytery.  These  missionary  funds  were  designed  for  the 
same  use  as  now,  domestic  and  foreign,  though  applied  through  differ- 
ent agencies.  At  the  same  time,  in  compliance  with  a  requisition  of 
the  General  Assembly,  the  proposition  to  raise  a  fund  for  the  support 
of  invalid  Presbyterian  ministers,  and  the  families  of  deceased 
ministers,  who  may  need  assistance,  was  considered;  and  the  opinion 


HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  13 

of  Presbytery  was  expressed,  with  apparent  unanimity,  "that  it  was 
inexpedient,  and  probably  would  not  answer  the  valuable  end  for 
which  it  was  designed."  When  we  consider  the  large  field  which  the 
members  of  the  Presbytery  had  to  supply,  the  widely  scattered  con- 
dition of  the  Presbyterian  societies,  the  newness  of  the  various  settle- 
ments, the  comparative  poverty  of  the  people,  and  the  difficulty  of 
sustaining  those  who  were  in  the  active  labors  of  the  ministry  among 
themselves ;  we  cannot  wonder  that  the  members  of  the  Presbytery, 
at  that  early  day,  thought  it  inexpedient,  because  seemingly  imprac- 
ticable to  contribute  to  such  a  fund.  It  is  only  of  late  years  that  this 
object  has  been  reduced  to  form,  and  made  one  of  the  regular  objects 
of  the  churches'  contributions;  though  certainly  one  which  should 
never  have  been  overlooked.  It  may  be  added,  that  there  are  reasons 
which  might  be  assigned,  why  such  a  fund  was  not  so  imperatively 
demanded  at  that  early  day,  as  now,  when  the  Church  has  become  so 
extended,  its  membership  so  much  more  numerous,  and  its  ministers 
greatly  multiplied.  In  those  times  it  was  so  much  easier  for  ministers 
to  get  possession  of  a  piece  of  land ;  which  they  did,  and  in  most 
cases  found  it  necessary  to  cultivate,  at  least,  in  part,  as  a  means  of 
support  for  themselves  and  families.  These  lands  descended  to  their 
children:  and  to  this  day  we  have  some  of  their  descendants  living 
amongst  the  people  whom  their  fathers  served  in  the  ministry,  in 
comfortable,  if  not  in  affluent  circumstances.  Yet  it  must  not  be 
understood,  as  if  these  fathers  were  opposed  to  having  provision  made 
for  superannuated  and  invalid  ministers  and  their  families  after  their 
decease,  but  only  that  it  was  inexpedient  and  hopeless  to  urge  it  on 
the  churches  of  the  Presbytery  at  that  time  when  more  urgent  objects 
were  before  them.  They  could  not  have  been  opposed  to  the  object 
itself. 

At  the  same  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  examine  the  credentials  of  ministers  coming  within  their  bounds. 
tSo  careful  were  they  that  no  unsuitable  and  uncertified  minister 
should  impose  upon  the  people.  According  to  the  strict  presbyterian 
rules  to  which  they  had  been  accustomed,  and  which  they  had  estab- 
lished among  themselves  as  soon  as  they  were  set  off  into  a 
Presbytery,  no  traveling  minister  might  preach  within  their  bounds 
without  the  consent  of  the  Presbytery,  if  in  session,  or  the  committee 
on  credentials,  if  he  came  during  the  intervals  of  Presbytery.  And 
no  congregation  might  invite,  or  employ  a  minister  that  did  not 
belong   to   the  Presbytery,  without  first  asking  the  consent  of  the 


14  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON'. 

Presbytery  for  liberty  to  apply  to  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle  for  sup- 
plies— the  very  Presbytery  from  which  most  of  the  original  members  . 
came;    and    also    to    the   older    Presbyteries.     And    this    rule    was 
universally  observed  at  a  time  when  there  was  the  greatest  need   of 
ministers    to  supply    the   numerous  vacancies  within    the   extended 
bounds  of  the  Presbytery ;  and  when  every  accession  to  their  ranks 
tended  to  diminish  the  laborious  service  demanded  of  those  already 
in  the  field.     No  doubt  they  were  prepared  to  hail  with  joy  every 
proper  laborer  that  came  into  their  bounds.     There  were  great  temp- 
tations to  relax  in  the  strictness  of  their  rule  in  this  respect.     Presby- 
terians and  Presbyteries  have  always  exhibited  a  laudable  degree  of 
sensitiveness  on  this  point.     A  pure  and  competent  ministry  has  been 
the  aim  of  the  courts  of  the  Church  and  of  the  people.     At  times 
Presbyteries    and    congregations    may    have    been    imposed    on   by 
unworthy  candidates,  but  it  has  not  been  from  wilful  neglect  on  their 
part.     And  the  care  taken  in  this  matter  is  still  more  noticeable  fr®m 
the  fact  that  candidates  for  the  ministry  were  very  scarce.     Yet  at  the 
first  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  one  candidate  offered  himself  to  be 
taken  under  trial  for  the  ministry,  Mr.  James  Magill,  supposed  to  be 
a  son,  or  other  relative  of  the  Rev.  Hugh    Magill.     He   continued 
under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  for  about  a  year  and  a  half,  passed 
most  of  his  examinations  and  parts  of  trial,  and  upon   the  point  of 
licensure  requested  a  dismission  from  the  Presbytery.     This  was  at  the 
stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  October  6,  1796.     Whether  he  was 
dismissed  to  the  care  of  another  Presbytery,  or  with  a  view  to  connect 
himself  with  another  denomination,  or    that    he   had  given  up  the 
purpose  of  entering  the  ministry,  is  not  known,  as  there  is  no  other 
notice  taken  of  it  in  the  minutes,  except  that  he  applied  for  a  dismis- 
sion, which  the  Presbytery  granted,  with  a  certificate  of  good  moral 
character.     After    that    time   no    more    is    heard    of    him.     One   fact 
connected  with  his    several  parts  of   trial,  serves   to  show   that    the 
members  of  Presbytery  were   by   no  means   disposed  to  pass   lightly 
over    the    examinations    of   candidates,    or    the   pieces    for    exercise 
appointed  them  for  delivery  before  the  Presbytery.     Their  examina- 
tions seem  to  have  been  very   thorough,  and  they   were  not  readily 
satisfied  with  any   part  of  trial.     Therefore  a  lecture  delivered  before 
them,  and    in    the    presence    of  a    public    audience,    the    Presbytery 
refused   to   sustain;  though  Mr.   Magill   afterwards   passed    through 
several  other  parts  of  trial  to  the  satisfaction  of  Presbytery.      What 
influence  the  refusal  to  sustain  a  lecture  delivered  by  him   may  have 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  15 

had  in  inducing  him  to  ask  a  dismission  afterwards  from  the  Presby- 
tery, may  only  be  a  matter  of  conjecture,  if  it  had  any  influence  at 
all.  The  next  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  he  delivered  another 
lecture  which  was  sustained.  Such  a  case  as  this,  which  must  have 
been  the  occasion  of  much  mortification  to  the  candidate,  probably 
suggested  the  following  standing  rule,  adopted  by  the  Presbytery  at 
its  next  regular  meeting  :  "  That  no  candidate  be  permitted  to  deliver 
any  of  his  discourses  before  a  public  audience,  except  the  Lecture  and 
Popular  Sermon ;  and  that  only  after  Presbytery  has  received  compe- 
tent satisfaction  on  all  other  parts  of  trial." 

The  next  year,  at  the  Spring  meeting,  April,  1796,  Mr.  Samuel 
Bryson  applied  to  be  taken  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  as  a 
candidate  for  the  ministry,  and  after  the  usual  testimonials  and  exam- 
inations, he  was  so  received,  and  assigned  parts  of  trial.  This  is  the 
second  candidate  taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  after  its 
organization. 

Few  as  were  the  members  when  the  Presbytery  was  organized, 
changes  soon  came,  by  which  the  number  was  diminished ;  especially 
of  those  who  had  settled  charges.  Most  of  the  members  were  old 
men  at  the  time  the  Presbytery  was  set  off  from  Carlisle.  The  Rev. 
James  Martin  died  on  the  twentieth  day  of  June,  1795,  being  per- 
mitted ouly  once  to  meet  with  the  Presbytery  after  its  organization. 
At  the  second  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  the  Rev.  Hugh 
Magill,  pastor  of  Tuscarora  congregation  (Lower  Tuscarora)  applied 
to  have  the  pastoral  relation  to  said  congregation  dissolved,  on 
account  of  his  age  and  infirmaties.  This  request  was  granted,  the 
congregation  consenting. 

On  the  22nd  of  June,  1796,  Rev.  James  Johnston,  pastor  of  East 
and  "West  Kishacoquillas,  requested  leave  to  resign  his  charge.  The 
congregations  being  cited  to  appear  by  their  commissioners  at  the 
next  stated  meeting  to  show  cause,  if  any  they  had,  why  Presbytery 
should  not  accept  his  resignation ;  did  appear  by  their  commisioners, 
and  presented  the  following  paper,  signed  by  a  majority  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  congregations :  "  That  the  congregations  heartily  desired 
that  Mr.  Johnston  should  continue  their  pastor,  and  that  they  would 
be  perfectly  satisfied  with  what  ministerial  duties  his  health  would 
permit  him  to  discharge."  Nevertheless,  Mr.  Johnston  having  given 
sufficient  reasons,  Presbytery  agreed  to  dismiss  him ;  and  he  was  dis- 
missed on  the  fifth  day  of  October,  1796.  After  Mr.  Johnston  was 
relieved  of  his  pastoral  charges,  lie  continued  to  receive  ajipointments 


16  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON. 

from  Presbytery  as  an  occasional  supply  of  vacant  points,  as  hi< 
health  would  permit ;  and  at  the  same  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  at 
which  his  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved,  the  commissioners  present 
from  his  late  charge,  requested  that  he  might  be  appointed  to  supply 
their  congregation  for  as  much  of  his  time  as  Presbytery  could  give 
them  until  the  next  meeting.  Two  appointments  were  given  him 
elsewhere,  and  the  rest  of  the  time  was  left  at  his  own  discretion. 
This  record  shows  that  at  the  time  of  his  resignation  of  his  charge, 
he  was  not  altogether  disabled  from  any  service ;  and  such  were  the 
great  necessities  and  destitution  of  suitable  supplies  within  the  ex- 
tended bounds  of  the  Presbytery,  that  the  old  men  who,  through 
infirmities,  could  not  assume  all  the  responsibilities  of  a  pastoral 
charge,  were  impelled  to  do  all  they  could  to  further  the  cause,  and 
meet  the  wants  of  the  churches.* 

At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery,  and  for  many 
years  afterwards,  the  salaries  of  pastors  were  small  compared  with  the 
salaries  now  deemed  a  minimum  salary.  The  largest  salary  on  record 
till  1809,  is  that  offered  in  the  call  from  Bellefonte  and  Lick  Kun 
congregations  to  Rev.  James  Linn,  being  $500.  The  next  highest 
salary  was  that  offered  in  1810  to  Rev.  William  Kennedy  by  Lewis- 
town  and  West  Kishacoquillas,  being  $480.  And  in  1820-1,  the  largest 
salary  given  was  only  $000 ;  and  these  were  the  largest  and  among  the 
wealthiest  congregations  in  the  Presbytery.  But  after  all,  compared 
with  the  greater  wealth  of  the  congregations  now,  and  the  greater 
facilities  for  obtaining  money  for  every  thing  a  farmer  has  to  sell,  and 
the  great  advance  in  the  price  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  there  need  be 
no  hesitation  in  saying,  that  the  salaries  then  promised  were  not  only 
liberal,  but  more  liberal  than  most  now  paid  outside  of  the  great 
cities.  When  a  bushel  of  oats  could  be  purchased  at  from  ten  to 
twelve  cents;  potatoes  at  the  same  rate;  and  wheat  would  only  bring 
from  twenty-five  to  thirty-seven  cents,  or  ever  rise  to  fifty  or  sixty 
cents,  and  no  great  demand  at  any  price,  and  not  always  to  be  sold 
for  cash ;  it  may  surely  be  no  more  than  justice  to  the  fathers  to  say, 
that   the   salaries   they   promised   their   pastors   were   comparatively 


*The  above  statement  is  precisely  as  gathered  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Presbytery,  but  it  is 
evident  that  there  is  some  confusion  in  the  Minutes,  as  Mr.  Jounstox  continued  tC  be  the 
recognized  pastor  of  East  Kishacoquillas  congregation  till  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1820.  It 
is  more  than  probable  that  it  was  the  charge  of  West  Kishacoquillas  which  Mr.  J.  resigned  in 
1796.  His  original  charge  consisted  of  both  East  and  West  Kishacoquillas,  and  Little  Valley. 
If  the  resignation  of  Mr.  J.  included  both  East  and  West  Kishacoquillas,  then  from  that  time  to 
the  end  of  life  he  was  only  the  stated  supply  of  East  Kishacoquillas. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  17 

liberal,  and  their  successors  in  the  various  congregations  have  nothing 
to  boast  of  in  the  comparison.  But  there  was  in  many  cases,  in  not 
in  most  instances,  a  great  draw  back  in  regard  to  punctuality  in  pay- 
ment. The  salary  would  be  permitted  to  fall  behind  in  a  series  of 
years,  and  the  pastor  either  compelled  by  his  necessities,  or  out  of 
good-nature,  to  forgive  a  part,  on  condition  of  prompt  payment  of  the 
balance.  Sometimes  the  final  settlement  was  not  attempted  till  after 
the  death  or  removal  of  the  pastor,  and  then  difficulties  would  arise, 
and  the  Presbytery  applied  to  by  the  executors  of  the  deceased  to 
interfere  and  prevent  the  settlement  of  a  pastor  till  all  arrearages 
had  been  paid  to  the  former  pastor.  In  several  instances  such  appli- 
cation was  made,  and  the  Presbytery  did  interpose  in  all  proper  cases 
with  the  happiest  results.  And  at  this  distance  of  time  the  wisdom 
displayed  in  the  management  of  such  cases  cannot  but  be  admired : 
e.  g.  the  executors  of  the  estate  of  Eev.  James  Martin  applied  to 
Presbytery  "  to  take  such  measures  as  they  may  deem  advisable  to 
bring  to  the  most  speedy  issue  a  settlement  with  the  congregations  of 
West  Penns  Valley,  Warrior  Mark,  and  Sinking  Valley."  Accord- 
ingly the  request  was  entertained  by  Presbytery,  and  two  separate 
committees  appointed  of  most  respectable  gentlemen — laymen — to 
ascertain  and  settle  the  balance  due  the  deceased  from  each  of  the 
congregations  named.  To  show  the  character  of  these  committees  a 
single  name  may  be  mentioned,  the  Hon.  Andrew  Gregg,  then  a 
member  of  the  congregation  of  Bellefonte,  and  grand-father  of  Hon. 
A.  G.  Curtin,  late  Governor  of  the  State,  now  Minister  to  Russia. 
Executors  were  not  authorized  to  give  a  part  of  a  pastor's  salary  on 
condition  of  the  prompt  payment  of  the  balance. 

And  here,  as  well  as  in  any  other  place,  it  is  due  to  these  old  fathers 
of  the  Presbytery  to  say,  that  the  original  members  of  the  Presbytery, 
with  the  accessions  made  to  their  number  from  time  to  time  till  the 
beginning  of  the  present  century,  appear  to  have  conducted  business 
not  only  in  strict  Presbyterial  order,  but  with  great  wisdom  and 
prudence.  This  appears  in  reviewing  the  minutes  of  their  proceed- 
ings in  the  various  emergencies  which  arose,  and  the  appointment  of 
committees  for  various  objects.  From  their  ecclesiastical  origin,  we 
would  expect  to  find  strict  adherence  to  sound  doctrine,  as  contained 


Note. — Salaries  were  raised  by  subscription  papers  passed  through  the  various  parts  of  the 
congregation,  and  often  the  subscriber  promised  to  pay  so  much  in  money,  and  so  much  in 
produce — wheat,  corn,  and  oats.  And  when  the  formal  call  was  made  out  the  promise  was 
almost  always  to  pay  a  certain  amount  in  cash,  and  balance  in  produce  of  the  farms. 


IS  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

in  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith  and  the  Catechisms,  Larger 
and  Shorter ;  but  in  matters  requiring  only  practical  discretion  apart 
from  authoritative  rules,  one  would  not  be  surprised  to  meet  with 
some  evident  mistakes  in  judgment  and  prudence.  But  none  such 
can  be  seen  upon  their  recorded  proceedings,  when  viewed  with  the 
eye  of  candor,  and  in  the  light  of  the  times  in  which  they  lived. 
Particularly  in  the  appointment  of  committees,  for  specific  objects, 
they  were  eminently  judicious. 

The  Presbytery  usually  continued  in  session  for  three  days  at  their 
Spring  and  Fall  meetings,  but  seem  to  have  held  only  one  sitting  each 
day.  The  reason  of  this,  no  doubt,  was  the  distance  they  would  have 
to  go  to  their  lodgings  at  night ;  especially  when  meeting  in  a  country 
congregation. 

The  Rev.  David  Wiley  was  appointed  the  first  Stated  Clerk  of  the 
Presbytery  on  the  last  day  of  their  sessions,  October,  1796,  just  a  year 
and  a  half  after  the  organization.  No  Stated  Clerk  was  needed 
sooner,  for  as  yet  there  were  few  minutes  to  transcribe.  Afterwards, 
at  stated  times,  a  committee  of  Presbytery  was  appointed  to  review 
the  minutes  that  had  been  transcribed  by  the  Stated  Clerk  and  report 
to  Presbytery. 

The  Rev.  James  Johnston  and  Rev.  John  Bryson  were  the  first 
commissioners  appointed  after  the  formation  of  the  Presbytery  to 
represent  it  in  the  General  Assembly,  and  Mr.  George  McCormick 
and  David  Stewart,  Esq.,  the  ruling  elders  for  same  purpose. '  Mr. 
McCormick  is  believed  to  have  been  an  elder  of  one  of  Mr.  Grier's 
congregations,  and  Mr.  Steavart  of  Hart's  Log  congregation,  of  which 
the  Rev.  John  Johnston  was  pastor.  Alternates  were  appointed  to 
the  ministerial  delegates,  but  none  to  the  elders ;  and  for  several 
years  afterwards  Presbytery  appointed  no  alternates  to  the  elders. 
Is  it  to  be  inferred  from  this,  that  the  attendance  of  elders  on  the 
General  Assembly  was  a  matter  of  no  importance  in  the  estima- 
tion of  the  Presbytery?  By  no  means;  the  probable  reason  is  to 
be  found  in  the  fact  that  few  elders  were  willing  to  undergo  the 
fatigue  of  the  journey  to  and  from  Philadelphia,  where  the  General 
Assembly  was  then  always  held,  and  few  could  afford  the  time  then 
required  to  make  the  journey,  together  with  the  time  sjjent  in  attend- 
ance at  the  Assembly.  The  journey  was  in  those  days  made  on  horse- 
back, and  probably  not  less  than  ten  days  were  consumed,  riding  day 
after  day,  in  travelling  from  the  extremities  of  the  Presbytery  to  the 
place  of  meeting,  and  as  many  on  the  return.     The  necessary  expenses 


HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON'.  l!) 

of  the  commissioners  were  provided  for  by  the  Presbytery  from  the 
commissioners  fund,  to  which  all  the  congregations  were  required  to 
contribute,  but  no  compensation  for  lost  time.  It  was  difficult  to  find 
elders  who  were  willing  to  go  to  the  Assembly,  and  the  Presbytery 
selected  those  whom  they  had  most  reason  to  believe,  from  their  cir- 
cumstances, would  be  likely  to  attend,  or  who  had  promised  to  "go,  if 
appointed.  The  main  question  in  the  early  times  of  the  Presbytery 
was,  Who  will  go  ?  Now  it  is  considered  a  matter  of  favor  to  be  per- 
mitted to  represent  the  Presbytery  in  the  General  Assembly.  In 
looking  over  the  minutes,  it  will  be  observed  as  not  an  uncommon 
occurrence,  that  a  young  pastor  is  sent  as  a  commissioner  the  first 
meeting  of  the  Assembly  after  his  ordination  and  installation ;  as  if 
the  older  member  of  the  Presbytery  would  say,  "let  him  learn  to 
bear  the  yoke  in  his  youth."  But  now  times  are  altogether  changed  ; 
the  facilities  of  travel  are  so  much  improved  that  time  and  space  are 
annihilated,  and  with  almost  as  much  ease  a  person  can  travel  from 
one  extremity  of  the  country  to  the  other,  and  with  almost  as  little 
inconvenience  and  fatigue,  as  sitting  in  his  parlor,  at  home.  In  this 
connection  the  fact  may  be  stated,  that  very  often  at  the  regular 
stated  Spring  and  Fall  meetings  of  the  Presbytery  not  more  than  one 
half  of  the  ministers  would  be  present ;  and  this  especially  when  the 
Presbytery  met  at  the  extreme  ends  of  the  territory  ;  and  at  the 
intermediate  meetings  during  Summer  and  Winter,  there  would  not 
be  more,  than  was  necessary  to  form  a  quorum.  And  on  one  occasion 
there  was  not  a  quorum  until  the  second  day.  The  state  of  the  roads, 
and  the  distances  the  members  had  to  travel  to  meet  the  brethren 
were  the  general  excuses,  and  there  is  not  an  instance  on  record  of  the 
excuse  of  a  member  being  deemed  insufficient.  When  it  is  remem- 
bered that  the  Presbytery,  till  1811,  covered  all  the  terrritory  now 
occupied  by  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland,  as  well  as  the  present 
boundaries  of  Huntingdon,  the  absence  of  a  large  proportion  of  the 
members  occasionally,  from  the  meetings  of  the  Presbytery,  is  not  to 
be  wondered  at.  Some  would  have  to  travel  from  one  hundred  and 
fifty  to  two  hundred  miles  to  meet  the  Presbytery,  and  that  on  horse- 
back, by  the  most  difficult  roads.  And  it  will  also  be  recollected  that 
the  majority  of  the  members  were  either  old  men,  or  past  the  merid- 
ian of  life. 

Mr.  Samuel  Bryson  was  the  second  candidate  for  the  ministry, 
under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery ;  but  was  the  first  the  Presbytery 
licensed  ;  Mr.  James  Magill  having  withdrawn  before  licensure.     Mr. 


20  HISTORY    OP   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON. 

B.  was  taken  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  on  the  13th  of  April, 

1796,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  on  the  12th  day  of  April, 

1797,  Whether  he  pursued  his  literary  studies  privately,  or  at  some 
public  institution  is  not  known,  but  the  Presbytery  certify  at  his 
licensure,  that  he  had  gone  through  a  regular  course  of  literature ; 
and  he  probably  studied  Theology  with  his  brother,  the  Rev.  John 
Bryson,  of  Warrior  Run.  At  this  time  there  were  no  Theological 
Seminaries  connected  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  All  theological 
students  studied  privately  ;  generally  with  the  pastor  of  the  congre- 
gation with  which  they  were  connected;  or  with  some  neighboring 
minister. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  October  of  the  same  year,  a 
call  was  handed  into  Presbytery  from  Upper  Tuscarora  and  Little 
Aughwick  congregations  for  Mr.  Samuel  Bryson  ;  which  he  requested 
the  leave  of  Presbytery  to  retain  in  his  hands  for  consideration  till  the 
next  stated  meeting.  The  call  was  accompanied  with  a  subscription 
paper,  amounting  to  upwards  of  £150.  After  consideration,  at  the 
next  meeting  of  Presbytery  Mr.  B.  declined  this  call.  At  the  same 
meeting  of  Presbytery,  a  call  from  the  united  congregations  of  Spruce 
Creek  and  Sinking  Valley  was  presented  for  Mr.  Bryson  ;  accom- 
panied with  subscription  papers  amounting  to  upwards  of  £144,  which 
call  he  accepted.  At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  held  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  Robert  McCartney  on  Spruce  Creek,  November  20, 

1798,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  said  congregations ;  in 
which  service  Rev.  John  Bryson  preached  the  ordination  sermon, 
and  Mr.  Morrison  presided  and  gave  "  the  charge "  agreeably  to  ap- 
pointment of  a  former  meeting.  The  record  of  this  installation 
service,  in  connection  with  the  ordination,  would  seem  to  indicate 
that  there  was  but  one  charge  given,  that  to  the  minister. 

In  both  of  the  calls  to  which  reference  has  been  made,  that  from 
Upper  Tuscarora  and  Little  Aughwick,  and  that  from  Spruce  Creek 
and  Sinking  Valley,  the  salary  promised  seems  to  have  been  exceeding- 
ly liberal  for  those  times,  and  for  country  congregations.  The  former 
congregations  offered  upwards  of  £150,  the  latter  £144,  and  upwards. 
But  when  we  know  more  about  this  matter,  and  how  the  amount  was 
to  be  paid,  it  does  not  look  so  large,  but,  on  the  contrary,  is  greatly 
diminished  in  value.  When  the  clerk  of  Presbytery  records  the  calls 
he  adds — "  and  subscription  papers  to  the  amount  of  £150  and  £144." 
The  idea  conveyed  by  this  record  is,  that  the  accepting  minister 
took  the  subscription  paper  or  papers  as  security  for  his  salary,  each 


HISTORY   OF    THE   PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  21 

one  to  pay  the  amount  of  his  personal  subscription  as  he  could,  or  was 
willing,  in  grain,  potatoes,  or  cabbage,  more  frequently  than  in  money 
— the  minister  to  collect  his  own  salary  as  he  could — and  in  case  any 
one  who  chose  to  take  offense  at  the  minister,  refused  to  pay,  there 
was  nothing  left  for  the  minister  to  do  but  to  forgive  him,  or  have  a 
fight  with  his  congregation.  In  case  an  appeal  was  made  to  the  Pres- 
bytery, and  the  congregation  compelled  to  make  good  the  deficiencies, 
in  most  cases  the  pastor  'might  as  well  resign  the  charge,  for  such 
would  be  the  issue  sooner  or  later.  In  this  state  of  things  the  usual 
course  of  the  pastor  was  to  tender  to  Presbytery  his  resignation,  on 
the  ground  of  insufficient  salary,  or  defective  payment,  and  then  if  he 
were  a  pastor  specially  acceptable  to  the  people  generally,  and  his 
salary  had  fallen  behind  more  through  inconsideration  than  inten- 
tion ;  or  if  there  were  a  good  deal  of  the  grace  of  honesty  among 
the  people,  deficiencies  would  be  made  up,  and  the  removal  of  the 
pastor  successfully  resisted.  We  record  these  things  because  they 
are  true,  and  we  intend  to  keep  to  the  truth  of  history,  neither  flat- 
tering people  or  ministers  beyond  their  due.  Congregations,  and 
ministers  too,  ought  to  be  aware  that  they  are  making  the  materials 
for  future  history. 

At  the  Fall  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  1803,  Mr.  Bryson  requested 
to  be  released  from  his  pastoral  charge  of  Spruce  Creek  and  Sinking  Val- 
ley ;  and  the  congregations  having  appeared  by  their  commissioners, 
and  expressed  'their  concurrence,  it  was  resolved  that  Mr.  Bryson's 
request  be  granted,  and  he  was  accordingly  relieved  from  the  charge  of 
said  congregations.  At  the  same  meeting  he  requested  leave  to  travel 
out  of  the  bounds  of  Presbytery,  and  preach  at  discretion.  The  Stated 
Clerk  was  ordered  to  furnish  him  with  proper  testimonials  of  his  good 
standing.  Up  to  this  time  the  Rev.  S.  Bryson  appears  to  have  been  in 
good  standing  in  the  Presbytery.  But  at  the  Spring  meeting  of  1806, 
the  following  minute  is  recorded  :  "  Presbytery  agreed  that  the  Stated 
Clerk  be  ordered  to  cite  the  Rev.  Messrs.  David  Bard  and  Samuel 
Rryson  to  appear  at  their  next  meeting,  and  (agreeably  to  a  resolution 
of  the  General  Assembly,  A.  D.  1802)  give  an  account  how  they  have 
discharged  their  ministerial  duties."  (Minutes  of  Presb'y,  Vol.  I,  201.) 
At  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery  Mr.  Bard  appeared  and  fully  satis- 
fied Presbytery  in  the  matter  inquired  into;  but  Mr.  Bryson  did  not 
appear,  and  the  clerk  was  ordered  to  cite  him  to  appear  at  the  next 
Spring  meeting.  At  this  meeting  he  was  again  absent,  but  sent  a 
letter  to  the  Presbytery,  stating  some  reasons  for  his  not  attending 


22  HISTORY   OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON". 

Presbytery,  and  requesting  the  Presbytery  to  write  to  the  elders  of 
Spruce  Creek  and  Sinking  Valley  congregations,  urging  them  to  fulfil 
their  contract  with  him  while  he  was  their  pastor.  His  request  was 
granted,  and  the  clerk  directed  to  write  to  those  congregations  on  the 
subject;  but  at  the  same  time  it  was  ordered,  that  Mr.  B.  be  cited  a 
third  time  to  attend  Presbytery  at  their  Fall  meeting.  Mr.  Brysox 
still  not  appearing,  the  following  minute  was  made  by  Presbytery— 
"  The  [Rev.  Samuel  Brysox  not  obeying  the  citation  of  Presbytery, 
their  decision  in  his  case  was,  on  account  of  some  peculiar  circum- , 
stances  attending  it,  deferred  until  their  next  meeting." 

At  the  meeting  of  Presbytery,  April,  1808,  Mr.  S.  Brysox  attended, 
and  assigned  reasons  why  he  had  for  time  past  neglected  to  attend  to 
the  duties  of  his  office  as  a  gospel  minister,  as  follows:  1.  That  he 
was  threatened  with  an  incipient  pulmonary  complaint,  which  is 
increased  by  study.  2.  The  necessity  of  providing,  by  manual  labor, 
for  a  numerous  and  increasing  family.  His  reasons  were  deemed  at 
the  time  satisfactory,  and  so  recorded.  But  at  the  same  meeting  of 
the  Presbytery  a  committee  of  some  of  the  oldest  and  most  judicious 
ministers  and  elders  of  the  Presbytery  was  appointed  to  investigate 
reports  injurious  to  Mr.  Bryson's  character,  then  in  circulation,  but 
which  were  in  substance  denied  by  him.  The  committee,  according 
to  appointment,  met  at  Spruce  Creek  church,  on  the  first  Monday  of 
May  following  (1808),  and  was  opened  with  a  sermon  by  the  Rev.  Johx 
Johnstox,  one  of  the  committee. 

The  committee  took  testimony  and  reported  to  the  Presbytery  at 
its  next  meeting,  October  5,  1808.  After  hearing  the  report  of  the 
committee,  and  the  testimony  taken  by  them,  the  following  minute 
was  passed:  ''The  Presbytery  having  considered  the  testimony  taken 
by  the  committee  of  investigation,  appointed  in  the  case  of  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Brysox,  were  unanimously  of  opinion  that  he  ought  to  be 
suspended  from  the  exercise  of  the  gospel  ministry,  and  he  is  hereby 
suspended." 

At  the  meeting  of  Presbytery,  April  17,  1810,  Mr.  Brysox  made 
application  to  have  his  suspension  removed ;  but  Presbytery  refused 
to  accede  to  his*  request.  The  next  year,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Presby- 
tery, a  paper  was  received,  signed  by  a  number  of  the  members  of 
Spruce  Creek  congregation,  in  which  they  state,  "  that  having  been 
witnesses  of  Mr.  Bryson's  conduct  since  he  was  suspended  from 
the  gospel  ministry,  they  see  nothing  in  his  behavior  that  should 
cause  a  continuation  of  his  suspension."     Upon  which  the  following 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUXTIXGDOX.  23 

minute  was  adopted :  "  Reports  unfavorable  to  the  character  of  Mr. 
B.  being  still  in  circulation,  Presbytery  are  of  the  opinion  that  no 
decision  can  be  made  at  present  upon  said  paper."  But  Mr.  Brysox, 
having  professed  his  willingness  to  make  those  acknowledgements 
which  the  Book  of  Discipline  requires,  in  the  presence  of  the  congre- 
gation where  he  resides,  Presbytery  agreed  to  receive  (restore)  him  at 
the  next  meeting,  if  their  way  be  clear.     Min.  Vol.  T,  p.  253. 

According  to  the  above  minute,  at  the  October  meeting  following, 
the  case  of  Mr.  Brysox  was  taken  up.  A  free  conversation  was 
entered  into  with  a  number  of  the  persons  who  had  signed  Mr.  Bry- 
sox' s  certificate,  and  also  with  Mr.  B.  on  the  same  subject,  and  the 
following  action  was  had,  and  record  made  :  "  The  Presbytery  found 
upon  conversing  with  some  of  the  principal  persons  who  had  signed 
the  certificate,  that  their  object  in  signing  was  only  to  have  Mr. 
Bryson  restored  to  the  privilege  of  a  private  church  member.  It 
appeared  to  Presbytery  that  no  evidence  had  been  given  of  any  real 
change  in  the  conduct  of  Mr.  B.,  but  on  the  contrary,  that  his  walk 
and  conversation  since  his  suspension,  have  been  wholly  inconsistent 
with  the  character  of  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  or  even  a  private 
christian.  It  was  therefore,  unanimously  determined,  upon  the  most 
mature  deliberation,  that  the  Rev.  Samuel  Brysox  ought  to  be 
deposed  from  the  office  of  the  gospel  ministry ;  and  he  is  hereby 
deposed." 

The  history  of  Mr.  Samuel  Brysox's  entire  connection  with  the 
Presbytery,  and  the  various  steps  taken  in  his  case,  till  it  issued  in 
his  deposition  from  the  ministry  are  here  given,  so  as  to  present  the 
case  in  one  view ;  as  his  name  does  not  afterwards  appear  on  the 
minutes. 

In  closing  the  statement  of  it  two  or  three  obvious  reflections  will 
occur  to  the  intelligent  reader.  In  the  management  of  the  case  by 
the  Presbytery  there  is  no  record  of  the  charge,  or  charges,  brought 
against  him  by  Common  Fame.  Nor  is  there  any  record  of  a  copy  of 
the  charges  being  given  to  Mr.  B.,  with  the  names  of  the  witnesses. 
This  may  have  been  deemed  unnecessary,  as  he  was  present  at  the 
time  when  the  case  was  initiated,  and  it  is  recorded  that  he  substan- 
tially denied  the  charges ;  though  the  charges  are  not  named,  and 
took  no  exception  on  account  of  informality.  The  minutes  were 
afterwards  reviewed  by  the  Synod,  and  no  exception  taken  to  the 
record.  Yet  it  is  evident  that  the  Presbytery  acted  with  much  cau- 
tion and  deliberation,  and  with  a  desire  to  spare  as  much  as  possible 


24  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

the  feelings  of  the  accused  and  his  friends.  But  there  is  one  thing 
in  which  we  think  they  erred  on  the  score  of  kindness,  namely  :  in 
not  spreading  on  the  records  the  offence  or  offences  with  which  he 
was  charged.  They  have  left  the  readers  of  the  records  in  the  future 
to  infer  that  the  charges  might  have  been  more  aggravated  than  they 
were.  They  were  bad  enough,  it  is  true,  but  not  so  bad  as  could  be 
imagined.  Justice  to  the  Presbytery  itself  in  regard  to  the  main 
charge  preferred  against  him  by  common  fame,  as  it  has  come  down 
to  us  by  tradition,  would  seem  to  have  required  its  being  spread  upon 
the  minutes,  as  a  vindication  against  a  slander  perpetuated  against 
the  ministers  of  that  generation.  The  main  charge  as  it  has'  come 
down  to  us  by  tradition,  was  intemperance,  or  drunkenness.  Of 
course  a  drunken  man  will  be  a  fool,  both  in  actions  and  in  words.  If 
there  were  vulgar,  or  even  profane  words  charged,  they  are  to  be  laid 
at  the  door  of  the  original  offense ;  not  to  excuse  the  one,  or  the 
other,  but  to  aggravate  both.  The  man  that  will  take  that  into  his 
mouth,  which  he  knows  "will  steal  away  his  senses,"  is  responsible 
for  all  the  consequences.  But  it  has  been  charged  that  the  ministers 
and  elders  of  those  times  looked  with  an  indulgent  eye  upon  the 
drinking  habits  of  that  day,  even  when  they  themselves  were  strictly 
temperate,  but  not  abstinent.  The  truth  is,  that  with  all  our  supposed 
advance  in  temperance  principles,  we  do  not,  as  ministers,  deserve 
half  the  credit  for  our  abstinence  that  ought  to  be  accorded  to  the 
fathers  of  that  day ;  or  rather,  to  the  grace  of  God  in  the  Fathers. 
When  it  is  remembered  that  the  bottle  was  among  the  family  gods  of 
every  house ;  was  set  out  on  every  occasion,  and  it  was  considered  an 
act  of  discourtesy  to  decline  it ;  and  that  the  minister  might  enter 
a  half  dozen  different  families  on  the  same  day ;  it  is  something  of  a 
miracle  of  divine  grace  that  they  were  not  drunkards;  or,  at  least, 
deceived  into  a  degree  of  fondness  for  strong  drink,  leading  to  the  ship- 
wreck of  the  ministerial  character?  We  may  pass  a  very  harsh  judg- 
ment upon  the  men  who  fell  before  the  Destroyer  in  that  day,  and  see 
no  grounds  for  the  exercise  of  the  "charity  that  thinketh  no  evil;" 
but  it  might  be  more  becoming  to  thank  God  that  we  are  not  tried 
with  their  temptations.  It  is  only  necessary  to  add,  that  an  entire 
reformation  took  place  in  regard  to  the  habits  of  Mr.  Bryson. 
He  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  was  restored  to  the  communion  of  the 
church  of  Spruce  Creek,  in  the  bounds  of  which  he  continued  to  live : 
though  properly  never  restored  to  the  ministry.  There  is  a  caution 
which,  perhaps,  ought  to  be  given  here :  let  not  the  name  of  Samuel 


HISTORY    OF   THE    PKESBYTERY   OF   HUNTINGDON.  25 

Bryson  be  confounded  with  that  of  the  Rev.  John  Bryson.  They 
were  brothers,  indeed,  but  men  of  very  different  characters  and 
attainments.  The  Rev.  John  Bryson  was  permitted  to  fulfil  a  very 
long  life  of  ministerial  service,  and  died  embalmed  in  the  memory  of 
three  generations  to  whom  he  ministered.  Until  the  division  of  the 
Presbytery,  and  the  formation  of  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland, 
he  more  frequently  represented  the  Presbytery  in  the  General  Assem- 
bly than  any  other  minister.  More  will  be  written  of  him  before  the 
end  of  this  history. 

For  some  years  after  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery,  it  constitu- 
ted an  important  part  of  the  business  to  receive  "supplications,"  as 
they  were  termed,  for  supplies  for  vacant  congregations,  and  meeting 
these  applications  so  far  as  in  their  power.  The  extent  of  the  desti- 
tutions may  be  inferred  from  the  number  of  the  applications  for  sup- 
ply. And  yet  the  number  of  places  desiring  ministerial  services  was 
greatly  beyond  what  appears  from  the  formal  applications  to  the 
Presbytery.  It  is  supposed  that  none  but  formally  organized  con- 
gregations made  application  for  supplies,  but  there  were  numerous 
preaching  stations  within  the  various  pastoral  charges,  but  miles  away 
from  the  regularly  appointed  place  of  Sabbath  services,  that  were 
making  constant  demands  upon  the  time  and  labors  of  the  settled 
pastors.  It  has  been  already  noticed,  that  pastoral  charges  then  em- 
braced a  large  scope  of  country.  In  view  of  these  things,  the  supplies 
granted  by  Presbytery  to  vacant  congregations  were  very  liberal,  and 
congregations  having  pastors  had  to  consent  to  the  frequent  absences 
of  their  pastors.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  they  submitted  to  this 
without  murmuring,  for  they  knew  not  how  soon  their  necessity 
might  come. 

At  every  regular,  or  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  a  committee 
on  congregational  affairs  was  appointed,  whose  report  was  entered  in 
a  book  kept  for  this  purpose.  As  the  appointment  of  such  a  commit- 
tee has  been  long  since  discontinued,  the  book  containing  these  reports 
has  never  been  seen  by  the  writer,  and  he  can  only  conjecture  what 
were  the  subjects  of  the  reports  of  the  annually  or  semi-annually 
appointed  committee.  But  we  may  infer  that  the  payment  of  pastors' 
salaries  was  one  of  the  subjects  embraced  in  these  reports,  as  on  one 
occasion,  immediately  after  hearing  the  committee's  report,  the  fol- 
lowing Standing  Rule  was  adopted  by  the  Presbytery:  "That  every 
congregation  under  our  care,  having  a  settled  pastor,  give  an  account 
by  a  commissioner,  or  commissioners,  to  this  Presbytery  of  the  state 


26  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON. 

of  the  salary  in  the  respective  congregations,  at  every  Spring  meeting. 
Min.  v.  1,  p.  42. 

For  some  time  after  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery,  we  find  fre- 
quent references  of  difficult  or  delicate  questions  arising  in  congrega- 
tions referred  to  the  Presbytery  for  advice  or  decision.  It  is  only 
necessary  here  to  instance  in  one  case,  not  because  of  its  importance, 
but  because  it  may  serve  as  an  example  of  causes  sometimes  producing 
much  discontent  and  alienation  among  members  of  the  congregation. 
It  was  brought  to  the  notice  of  Presbytery  by  Rev.  Isaac  Grier,  "  that 
a  considerable  dispute  existed  in  the  congregation  of  Pine  Creek,  of 
which  he  was  pastor,  respecting  the  place  where  their  meeting  house 
should  be  erected — that  there  was  no  probability  it  would  be  decided 
by  the  parties  themselves,  and  requested,  in  behalf  of  said  congrega- 
tion, the  interference  of  Presbytery  in  the  premises." 

In  accordance  with  the  above  request,  the  Presbytery  appointed  a 
committee  to  meet  at  Pine  Creek  on  a  day  designated,  hear  both 
parties,  and  endeavor  to  terminate  the  unhappy  dispute.  Min.  Vol. 
1,  p.  48.  There  is  no  record  of  any  report  being  made  by  the  commit- 
tee ;  but  it  may  be  inferred  that  they  were  successful  in  their  mission, 
as  the  matter  is  not  mentioned  afterwards. 


CHAPTER  in. 


FROM  1797  TILL  THE  DIVISION  OF  THE  PRESBYTERY  IN  1811. 

Mr.  Stephens  Called  to  Shaver's  Creek  and  Installed — Mr.  Wiley  Resigns  Sinking  Creek — Rev. 
Asa  Dunham  Received— Mr.  Alexander  Mcllvaine  from  Ireland — Mr.  Thomas  Hogg  applies 
to  be  Received — Reports  Unfavorable  to  his  Character — Committee  Appointed  to  Investigate 
— Report — Attendance  of  Ministers  and  Elders  on  Synod — Rev.  Hugh  McGill — Disorderly 
Conduct  of  Mr.  McGill — The  matter  finally  disposed  of— The  Scotch  Irish — Mr.  Mcllvaine 
Called,  Ordained,  and  Installed — The  Rev.  John  Johnston  appointed  Stated  Clerk — Mr.  John 
B.  Patterson  Called,  Ordained,  and  Installed — Overture  from  the  General  Assembly — Rev. 
David  Bard  Resigns  his  Charge — Agreement  between  Mr.  Grier  and  his  Congregations — 
Representation  in  the  General  Assembly  in  1800 — Rev.  James  Simpson — Rev.  Mr.  Morrison 
Messrs.  William  Stuart  and  John  Coulter — Mr.  William  Jackson — The  Congregation  of 
Lycoming — Rev.  Hugh  Morrison  and  a  majority  of  the  Buffalo  Congregation  in  Controver- 
sy— Death  of  Mr.  Morrison — Rev.  Matthew  Brown,  D.  D. — Rev.  Thos.  L.  Birch — Rev.  Henry 
R.  Wilson — The  Rev.  Isaac  Grier  Resigns  Great  Island — Rev.  John  Hutchison  Received  and 
Licensed — Missions — Missionary  Treasurer — Charges  preferred  against  Rev.  Matthew  Ste- 
phens— Rev.  Thomas  Hood  Called — Mr.  Hutchison  Called — Education  for  the  Ministry — The 
Division  of  the  Presbytery  Proposed — Committee  of  Education  make  their  first  Report — 
Complaints  in  regards  to  Arrearages — Charges  against  Rev.  M.  Stephens  not  Sustained — 
The  General  Assembly  Refuse  to  Divide  the  Presbytery — The  Effects  of  Emigration — Pasto- 
ral Relations  Dissolved — References  from  the  Synods  of  Virginia  and  Kentucky  on  the 
Subject  of  the  Relation  of  Baptized  Children  to  the  Discipline  of  the  Church — Rev.  James 
Linn  Called  to  Bellefonte  and  Lick  Run — Mr.  W.  Kennedy  Called  to  Lewistown  and  West 
Kishacoquillas — Petition  for  the  Organization  of  a  Church  at  Milton — Mr.  Thomas  Caldwell 
a  Beneficiary  Candidate  for  the  Ministry — The  Establishment  of  a  Theological  Seminary — 
The  Presbytery  Divided. 

At  the  time  of  the  constitution  of  the  Presbytery  there  were  only 
eleven  ordained  ministers,  no  licentiates,  and  no  candidates  for  the 
ministry.  Of  the  ordained  ministers,  two  were  without  pastoral 
charges,  Rev.  John  Hoge  and  Rev.  Matthew  Stephens.  There  is 
reason  to  believe  that  Mr.  Hoge  never  sustained  a  pastoral  relation. 
But  Mr.  Stephens  was  soon  invited  to  become  the  pastor  of  Shaver's 
Creek  congregation,  of  which  he  had  been  stated  supply  for  some  time 
previous.  The  call  was  presented  to  Presbytery  October  4,  1797,  and 
put  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Stephens,  with  the  subscription  paper 
attached,  amounting  to  upwards  of  £130.  In  those  times  it  was  com- 
monly understood  that  the  minister  took  the  subscription  paper  as 
the  pledge  of  his  salary ;  and  whatever  may  have  been  the  under- 
standing of  Presbytery,  each  subscriber  was  to  be  looked  to  as  alone 


28  HISTORY   OP   THE   PRESBYTERY   OF   HUNTINGDON. 

responsible  for  his  individual  subscription,  and  payment  was  a  matter 
of  settlement  between  the  pastor  and  the  subscriber.  It  is  probable 
that  in  many,  if  not  in  most  cases,  collectors  were  appointed  in  the 
congregation ;  but  too  often  they  met  with  very  indifferent  success, 
either  from  negligence,  or  the  absence  of  a  feeling  of  responsibility  on 
the  part  of  the  congregation  as  a  w«hole.  Hence  there  is  scarcely  the 
record  of  a  pastoral  relation  dissolved  by  death,  or  otherwise,  for  a 
number  of  years,  after  which  there  were  not  difficulties  about  arrear- 
ages of  salary,  for  which  the  Presbytery  was  applied  to,  to  enforce  a 
settlement.  Sometimes  there  was  a  failure  in  a  congregation  in  meet- 
ing their  engagement  with  the  pastor  through  real  inability  to  jDay, 
induced  by  death,  or  emigration  from  the  congregation.  Cases  are 
recorded  in  which,  in  these  circumstances,  a  pastor  who  served  two, 
three,  or  more  congregations,  by  mutual  agreement,  and  with  the 
sanction  of  Presbytery,  relinquished  a  portion  of  his  salary ;  and  that 
part  of  his  charge  concerned,  relinquished  a  portion  of  the  time  of 
the  pastor.  But  this  by  the  way.  On  the  next  day  after  the  call 
from  Shaver's  Creek  had  been  put  into  his  hands,  Mr.  S.  announced 
his  acceptance  of  it,  but  requested  that  his  installation  be  deferred 
till  after  the  next  meeting  of  the  Presbytery.  At  the  next  meeting, 
April  11,  1798,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Wiley  and  John  Johnston  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  install  Mr.  Stephens  on  the  3d  Tuesday  of 
June  following,  which  was  accordingly  done. 

At  the  same  meeting  (that  Mr.  Stephens  was  called  to  Shaver's 
Creek,)  Mr.  Wiley  requested  leave  to  resign  his  connection  with 
Sinking  Creek,  one  branch  of  his  pastoral  charge,  and  represented  to 
Presbytery  that  said  congregation  had  appointed  a  committee  to 
inform  Presbytery  that  they  considered  themselves,  in  duty  to  Mr. 
Wiley,  in  the  present  state  of  the  congregation,  bound  to  concur  with 
him  in  his  request,  and  agree  that  it  be  granted.  The  pastoral  rela- 
tion was  accordingly  dissolved,  and  the  congregation  declared  vacant. 

At  the  next  stated  meeting  of  Presbytery,  April  10,  1798,  held  at 
Spring  Creek,  the  Rev.  Asa  Dunham  was  received,  an  ordained  minis- 
ter from  the  Presbytery  of  New-Brunswick.  At  the  same  time  and 
meeting,  Mr.  Alexander  McIlwaixe,  a  probationer  from  under  the 
care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Letterkenny,  north  of  Ireland,  having  pro- 
duced testimonials  of  his  regular  licensure  by  said  Presbytery,  and  of 
his  good  standing  in  the  Church,  requested  to  be  taken  under  the 
care  of  Presbytery.  But  not  having  with  him  such  collateral  testi- 
mony as  the  Synod  required— the  applicant  not  knowing  that  such 


HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  29 

testimony  was   required — Presbytery    directed  him    to  procure   such 
testimony  to  be  presented  at  the  next  meeting. 

It  will  occur  at  once  to  the  reader  that  the  main  reason  of  the 
Synod's  requiring  collateral  testimony,  besides  the  ordinary  testimo- 
nials, signed  by  the  clerk  of  the  Presbytery  from  which  the  candidate 
purported  to  come,  was  the  readiness  with  which  formal  certificates 
could  be  forged;  and  the  distance  of  the  country  from  which  he  came, 
so  that  it  might  be  some  considerable  time  before  the  forgery  could  be 
exposed.  Instances  of  such  imposition  upon  Presbyteries  made  such 
a  rule  necessary.  And  it  implied  no  particular  hardship  on  the  part 
of  real  ministers  of  character,  and  honest  probationers;  as  the  appli- 
cant for  admission  to  the  Presbytery  was  permitted  to  preach  within 
their  bounds  till  he  had  time  to  procure  the  required  testimony. 
This,  like  our  modern  rule  to  examine  all  ministers  coming  from  other 
Presbyteries,  so  as  to  be  satisfied  in  regard  to  their  soundness  in  faith, 
is  no  hardship  to  really  sound  men ;  and  those  who  are  not,  are  the 
very  persons  it  is  designed  to  meet.  After  they  are  in,  and  prove 
unsound  in  the  faith,  there  is  no  relief  but  what  may  prove  a  tedious 
and  wasting  prosecution. 

It  ought  to  have  been  noticed  before  that  at  the  Fall  meeting  of 
Presbytery  of  1797,  a  certain  Mr.  Thomas  Hogg,  a  probationer  from 
the  Presbytery  of  Tyrone,  Ireland,  having  produced,  in  the  opinion  of 
the  Presbytery,  sufficient  testimonials  from  said  Presbytery  of  licen- 
sure and  good  standing,  requested  to  be  taken  under  the  care  of 
Presbytery.  It  was  agreed  that  his  request  be  granted,  "  provided 
that  the  Synod  coincide  with  the  Presbytery  in  judgment."  The 
Synod  did  not  concur,  and  remitted  Mr.  H.  back  to  the  Presbytery  to 
lay  collateral  testimony  before  them,  in  order  to  his  reception.  For 
although  it  does  not  appear  that  the  General  Assembly  did  adopt  any 
general  regulations  in  regard  to  the  reception  of  foreign  ministers  and 
licentiates,  till  in  the  year  1800,  yet  the  Synods  of  Philadelphia  and 
New  York,  so  early  as  the  year  1764,  and  again  in  1774,  adopted 
standing  rules  upon  the  subject,  which  were  substantially  re-enacted 
by  the  General  Assembly  of  1800,  with  the  addition,  that  no  foreign 
minister,  or  licentiate,  should  be  received  into  full  membership  by  the 
Presbytery,  till  he  had  been  held  in  probation  at  least  one  full  year. 
What  is  intended  by  "collateral  testimony"  is  clearly  defined  in  the 
Assembly's  act  of  1800,  as  is  seen  in  the  following  extract:  "The 
Presbytery  to  which  such  minister  or  licentiate  may  apply,  shall 
carefully  examine  his  credentials,  and  not  sustain  a  mere  certificate  of 


30  HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESBYTERY    OP    HUNTINGDON. 

good  standing,  unless  corroborated  by  such  private  letters  or  other 
collateral  testimony  as  shall  fully  satisfy  them  as  to  the  authenticity 
and  sufficiency  of  his  testimonials." 

Mr.  Hogg  being  remitted  back  to  the  Presbytery  did  produce,  in 
the  opinion  of  the  Presbytery,  ample  collateral  testimony ;  but  cer- 
tain reports  injurious  to  his  character  prevailing  in  the  country,  it 
was  determined  to  defer  his  reception  into  ministerial  communion 
until  many  means  have  been  used  to  investigate  the  subject.  At  the 
request  of  Mr.  Hogg,  who  declared  there  were  no  just  causes  for  such 
reports,  Messrs.  Hugh  Morrison  and  David  Wiley,  ministers,  and 
Hugh  McCormick  and  John  Raisner,  elders,  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  investigate  the  matter,  and  report  to  Presbytery  at  its  next 
meeting.  This  committee  reported  at  the  time  appointed,  laid  the 
minutes  of  their  proceedings  before  the  Presbytery,  and  the  Presby- 
tery were  unanimously  of  the  opinion  that  the  reports  were  ground- 
less, and  ought  not  to  operate  against  Mr.  Hogg's  character. 

Mr.  Hogg,  after  continuing  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  for  a 
little  over  two  years,  and  receiving  appointments  regularly,  which  he 
generally  fulfilled,  sent  a  letter  to  Presbytery,  stating  that  he  had 
"  given  up  his  profession,  resigned  his  ministerial  office,"  and  request- 
ing "any  minutes  respecting  him  to  be  expunged  from  the  Presby- 
tery's Records."  After  mature  deliberation  the  Presbytery  resolved, 
uThat  they  no  longer  consider  Mr.  Hogg  as  under  their  care."  This 
is  the  last  time  his  name  appears  upon  the  minutes,  and  probably 
there  is  no  person  now  living  who  could  tell  what  became  of  him 
afterwards. 

About  this  time  a  committee  of  Presbytery  was  appointed  to  pre- 
pare a  letter  addressed  to  the  non -attending  members  of  the  Presby- 
tery, urging  their  attendance  at  the  next  meeting  of  Synod.  Whether 
there  were  any  special  reasons  connected  with  the  coming  meeting  of 
Synod,  why  they  should  be  urged  to  attend,  or  whether  there  had 
been  heretofore  customary  neglect  on  the  part  of  some  members  to 
attend  the  meetings  of  Synod,  there  is  nothing  in  the  records  to 
show.  However,  so  late  as  the  year  1805,  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia 
thought  it  necessary  to  send  a  letter  to  Presbytery,  enjoining  all  the 
ministers  of  this  Presbytery  who  have  charges,  to  inform  their  Ses- 
sions, at  least  one  month  previous  to  the  meeting  of  Synod,  that  it  is 
their  duty  and  privilege  to  send  a  representative  to  the  Synod  annu- 
ally :  and  to  apprize  vacant  congregations  of  their  duty  and  privilege 
in  this  respect.     Min.  Vol.  I.  p.  202.     From  this  it  would  appear  that 


HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESBYTERY   OP   HUNTINGDON.  31 

there  had  been  a  neglect  in  this  matter  on  the  part  of  Sessions ;  and, 
as  Synod  supposed,  on  account  of  ignorance  of  their  duty  and  their 
privilege.  But  it  is  more  than  probable,  that  the  neglect  arose  more 
from  the  inconvenience  and  expense  than  from  ignorance. 

In  the  comparatively  early  days  of  the  Presbytery  and  the  churches, 
it  occasionally  occurred  that  differences  arose  between  ministers  and 
their  congregations,  requiring  the  interference  of  Presbyteries ;  but 
perhaps  not  more  frequently  than  in  more  modern  times.  It  will  be 
recollected  that  Rev.  Hugh  Magill  applied  to  Presbytery  at  its 
second  meeting  after  organization,  to  have  his  pastoral  relation  to 
Tuscarora  congregation  dissolved.  He  still  remained  pastor  of  Cedar 
Spring,  the  other  part  of  his  charge.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Presby- 
tery at  Pine  Creek,  October  3,  1798,  a  petition  from  the  Session  and 
others,  members  of  Mr.  Magill's  congregation,  was  handed  in  and 
read,  which  informed  Presbytery  that  an  unhappy  difference  existed 
between  Mr.  M.  and  a  number  of  his  congregation,  and  asked  Presby- 
tery to  appoint  a  committee  of  the  Presbytery  to  meet  at  Cedar 
Spring  Church  (now  Mimintown)  to  assist  them  in  effecting  an  accom- 
modation. In  accordance  with  this  request,  Messrs.  Wiley,  Bryson 
(John)  and  Morrison,  ministers,  with  the  elders  Thomas  Ferguson, 
William  Bell,  Esq.,  and  John  Cooper,  were  appointed  the  commit- 
tee to  meet  at  Cecjar  Spring  Church,  on  the  last  Saturday  of 
month.  At  the  adjourned  meeting  held  on  the  20th  of  the  succeed- 
ing month,  this  committee  reported  that  they  had  met  at  the  time 
and  place  appointed,  but  had  been  unable  to  effect  an  accommodation. 
The  Presbytery  then,  after  consideration,  resolved  to  appoint  an 
adjourned  meeting  at  Cedar  Spring,  on  the  2d  Tuesday  of  January,  at 
which  still  farther  endeavors  may  be  used  to  effect  an  accommodation, 
or  do  whatever  shall  appear  to  be  expedient  in  the  premises.  At  this 
meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  Mr.  Magill  informed  Presbytery,  that  in 
consequence  of  advanced  age  and  many  infirmities,  he  conceived 
himself  no  longer  capable  of  discharging  the  duties  of  a  pastor,  and 
therefore  requested  that  the  pastoral  relation  between  him  and  the 
congregation  of  Cedar  Spring  be  dissolved.  The  members  of  the 
Session,  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  the  congregation,  united  with  Mr. 
Magill  in  his  request,  and  stated,  that  in  consideration  of  his  past 
labors,  they  would  pay  to  him  annually  the  sum  of  thirty  dollars,  and 
continue  to  him  the  use  of  the  glebe  during  his  natural  life — provided 
he  did  not  permit  the  timber  to  be  wasted,  or  unnecessarily  destroy- 
ed, nor  the  premises  to  be  otherwise  injured.     Upon  this  the  Presby- 


32  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON'. 

tery  dissolved  the  pastoral  relations,  and  declared  the  congregation 
vacant. 

No  doubt  the  Presbytery  considered  all  matters  of  dispute  between 
Mr.  Magill  and  Cedar  Spring  congregation  happily  and  finally  settled, 
and  at  the  next  meeting  in  April,  1799,  proceeded  to  appoint  supplies 
for  the  congregation,  as  usual  in  the  case  of  vacant  congregations. 
Mr.  Magill  was  appointed  the  first  supply  for  the  first  Sabbath  of 
May,  and  the  first  Sabbath  of  June ;  the  rest  of  his  time  at  discretion. 
Mr.  Wiley  to  administer  the  Lord's  Supper  there  on  the  third  Sab- 
bath of  August,  and  Mr.  S.  Bryson  to  assist  on  that  occasion. 

The  following  extract  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Session  of  Presby- 
tery, held  October  2,  1799,  will  tell  the  whole  story— p.  104,  Vol.  I: 

"  A  paper  was  handed  to  Presbytery  signed  by  Mr.  Magill,  in  which  he 
declares  that  he  declines  all  connection  with  the  Presbytery,  and  that  he 
will  not  submit  to  our  authority.  Also  a  letter  from  Mr.  McG.  to  Samuel 
Bryson,  in  which  he  desires  Mr.  B.  not  to  assist  in  the  administering  the 
Lord's  Supper  at  Cedar  Spring,  on  the  third  Sabbath  of  August  last, 
although  Mr.  B.  had  been  appointed  to  that  service  by  Presbytery.  It 
was,  moreover,  represented  to  Presbytery,  that  Mr.  M.  had  procured  the 
doors  of  the  meeting  house,  at  Cedar  Spring,  to  be  nailed  up,  so  that  Mr. 
Morrison  was  prevented  from  preaching  there  on  the  second  Sabbath  of 
August ;  that  the  people  have  thus  been  prevented  from  the  use  of  the 
house  ever  since;  and  that  his  conduct  has  been  in  mother  respects  irregular 
and  disorderly,  contrary  to  the  peace  and  welfare  of  the  society,  and  inju- 
rious to  the  interests  of  religion  in  general." 

In  consequence  of  these  representations  the  Presbytery  cited  Mr. 
Magill  to  appear  before  them  at  their  meeting  at  Upper  Tuscarora, 
on  the  first  Tuesday  of  November  following,  and  forbid  his  preaching 
within  the  bounds  of  the  congregation  of  Cedar  Spring,  unless  by 
permission  of  Presbytery  hereafter.  They  also  warned  the  people 
from  giving  countenance  to  Mr.  Magill  in  any  disorderly  conduct. 
It  would  seem  as  if  some  of  the  people  of  the  congregation  had  coun- 
tenanced Mr.  Magill,  and  therefore  a  committee  of  Presbytery  was 
appointed  to  prepare  a  letter  to  be  addressed  to  them  on  the  subject. 
Mr.  Bard  and  Mr.  John  Bryson  were  the  committee. 

Mr.  Magill  not  appearing  at  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  in 
November,  was  again  cited  to  appear  at  the  next  meeting  to  be  held 
at  Derry  in  Northumberland  county,  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  Decem- 
ber next,  to  answer  to  the  charges  exhibited  against  him.  Mr.  M. 
was  again  absent,  but  it  appearing  that  the  citation  ordered  at  the 
former  meeting  had  not  been  transmitted  to  him,  it  was  agreed  that 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY   OF   HUNTINGDON.  33 

the  Presbytery  meet  again  in  the  town  of  Northumberland  on  the 
4th  Tuesday  of  January,  and  Mr.  M.  be  cited  to  appear  there  to 
answer  to  such  charges  as  have  been  alleged  against  him.  Mr. 
Magill,  not  appearing  in  answer  to  the  renewed  citation,  it  was 
ordered  that  he  be  again  cited  to  appear  at  the  regular  stated  meet- 
ing to  be  held  in  Mifflintown  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  April,  1800.  At 
this  meeting  Mr.  M.  appeared,  acknowledged  that  most  of  the  particu- 
lars alleged  against  him  were  true,  and  that  he  would  cheerfully 
submit  the  matter  to  the  determination  of  Presbytery. 

In  consideration  of  his  age  and  infirmities,  the  Presbytery  dealt 
very  leniently  with  him,  only  censuring  his  conduct  as  very  reprehen- 
sible, admonishing  to  be  more  careful  and  circumspect  in  his  conduct 
for  the  future,  and  immediately  to  restore  to  the  congregation  all  the 
church  property  which  he  held,  and  no  longer  to  consider  himself  as 
having  any  claims  to  the  meeting  house.  Further,  they  ordered  that 
he  should  not  interfere  in  any  manner  with  the  affairs  of  the  congre- 
gation, nor  preach  within  its  bounds,  but  by  the  invitation  of  the 
Session  or  the  order  of  the  Presbytery.  And  in  regard  to  his  annuity 
promised  at  his  resignation  of  the  congregation,  payment  of  which 
had  been  suspended  because  of  his  troubles  with  the  church,  it  was 
ordered  that  it  should  commence  immediately  upon  his  compliance 
with  the  orders  of  the  Presbytery,  and  not  till  then. 

It  would  be  injustice  to  the  congregation  of  Cedar  Spring  to  close 
the  account  of  this  case  without  an  expression  of  admiration  for  the 
prudence  and  forbearance  which  they  manifested  throughout  the 
conduct  of  this  whole  case,  and  the  consideration  and  kindness  which 
they  manifested  to  their  aged  ex-pastor  up  to  the  very  last.  The 
grace  of  God  must  have  ruled  in  that  congregation,  or  the  promise  of 
the  use  of  the  Glebe,  and  the  annuity  of  thirty  dollars,  had  been 
recalled  at  the  close  of  this  vexatious  case.  It  is  true,  that  two  years 
afterwards,  Mr.  Magill  complained  tp  Presbytery  that  the  congrega- 
tion of  Mifflin  and  Lost  Creek  refused  to  pay  him  the  annuity  prom- 
ised at  the  time  the  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved.  But  it  was 
provoked  by  repeated  acts  on  the  part  of  Mr.  M.  and  his  family 
tending  to  the  injury  of  the  congregation.  If  the  Presbytery  did  not 
expressly  justify  thewithholding  of  the  annuity,  they  permitted  the 
congregation  to  do  as  they  thought  proper  in  regard  to  the  payment, 
and  considered  it  no  bar  to  the  settlement  of  another  pastor. 

Though  the  aged  ministers  were  dropping  out  of  active  service  one 
after  another,  in  the  good  providence  of  God  others  were  coming  to 


34  HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON. 

till  the  vacant  places,  and  to  carry  on  the  work ;  yet  not  so  fast  as  the 
necessities  of  the  numerous  vacancies  seemed  to  require.  But  the 
Lord  of  the  harvest  knew  hest  the  appropriate  times  in  which,  and 
the  places  to  which  to  appoint  his  ministers.  Though  some  from 
among  the  churches  of  the  Presbytery  were  looking  towards  and 
preparing  for  service  in  the  ministry,  the  larger  portion  of  acces- 
sions to  the  ranks  of  the  ministry  in  the  early  years  of  the  Church 
were  foreigners,  who  came  to  this  country  either  as  licentiates  or 
ordained  ministers.  Indeed,  of  those  who  constituted  the  Presbytery 
of  Huntingdon  at  its  organization,  they  were  almost  all  of  Scotland  or 
Ireland  by  birth,  or  of  the  Scotch- Irish  by  descent.  And  this  was 
mainly  true  of  the  private  members  of  the  congregations.  There 
were  some  in  every  congregation,  doubtless,  of  other  origin  and 
descent,  but  they  were  comparatively  few.  If  it  were  not  for  the 
descendants  of  Scotch-Irish,  our  church  would  even  yet  make  a  sorry 
appearance  as  to  members,  after  the  lapse  of  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
seven  years  since  the  constitution  of  the  first  Presbytery  in  this 
country.  For  many  years  there  was  a  constant  emigration  from 
Scotland  and  Ireland,  but  especially  from  Ireland  to  this  country ;  and 
the  assertion  may  be  ventured,  that  nineteen-twentieth's  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  churches  in  the  bounds  of  this  Presbytery 
are  the  immediate  descendents  of  Scotch-Irish  parents,  or  of  foreign 
birth  themselves. 

In  the  Spring  of  1798  Mr.  Alexander  McIlwaine,  a  licentiate  who 
had  lately  come  to  this  country,  made  application  to  be  received 
under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery,  as  has  already  been  referred  to ;  but 
according  to  the  rules  adopted  by  the  Synod  and  Genei'al  Assembly, 
he  could  not  be  received  till  after  a  year's  probation.  During  that 
year  he  passed  through  almost  the  same  parts  of  trial  as  a  candidate  for 
licensure  among  ourselves,  and  his  christian  character  was  tested,  also 
his  ability  to  labor,  and  his  acceptableness  as  a  preacher  among  the 
people.  On  the  17th  of  April,  1799,  the  Presbytery  made  the  follow- 
ing minute  in  respect  to  Mr.  McIlwaine:  " Having  now  resided  and 
preached  within  the  bounds  of  this  Presbytery  for  upwards  of  one 
year,  his  case  was  reviewed.  He  was  examined  as  to  his  knowledge 
and  approbation  of  our  standards  of  doctrine,  discipline,  and  govern- 
ment ;  whereupon,  Presbytery  unanimously  determined  to  receive 
him  under  their  care,  and  make  report  to  the  next  General  Assembly 
of  his  reception,  as  a  candidate  of  prudence,  gravity,  and  godly  con- 
versation, and  highly  acceptable  to   our  churches."     The  Assembly 


HISTORY   OF    THE    PRESBYTERY   OF   HUNTINGDON.  35 

approved  of  the  pi'oceeding  of  Presbytery  in  relation  to  Mr.  McIl- 
waine.  On  the  2nd  of  October  following,  a  call  from  the  united  con- 
gregation of  Upper  Tuscarora  and  Little  Aughwick  for  the  pastoral 
services  of  Mr.  McIlwaine,  promising  him  a  salary  of  £151.  Mr. 
McIlwaine  declared  his  acceptance  of  the  call;  and  on  the  6th  day 
of  November  of  same  year  he  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery,  and 
installed  pastor  of  said  congregations. 

On  the  4th  of  October,  1797,  as  has  been  stated  before,  Eev.  D. 
Wiley  had  been  released  at  his  own  request,  and  with  concurrence  of 
the  congregation  from  the  charge  of  Sinking  Creek  congregation,  and 
on  the  12th  of  June,  1799,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  called  for 
the  purpose,  he  was  released  from  the  congregation  of  Spring  Creek, 
the  other  part  of  his  original  charge.  This  also  was  at  his  own 
request,  and  with  the  consent  of  the  congregation,  though  given  with 
apparent  reluctance.  No  doubt  the  cause  was  insufficient  support, 
after  the  separation  from  Sinking  Spring  Church.  It  was  a  rare  thing 
in  those  days  for  a  single  congregation  to  undertake  the  support  of  a 
pastor.  Towns  in  which  there  are  now  two  or  three  Presbyterian 
congregations,  were  then  connected  sometimes  with  two  or  three 
other  congregations  in  the  support  of  the  same  pastor.  Mr.  Wiley 
about  this  time  resigned  his  office  of  stated  clerk,  and  the  Rev.  John 
Johnston  seems  to  have  been  appointed  stated  clerk.  Mr.  Wiley  con- 
tinued within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  about  a  year  after  the 
resignation  of  his  pastoral  charges,  and  was  dismissed  April  22,  1801, 
to  connect  with  the  Presbytery  of  Baltimore. 

In  October,  1799,  Mr.  John  B.  Patterson,  a  licentiate  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  New  Castle,  was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  and 
calls  were  immediately  presented  for  him  from  the  congregations  of 
Mahoning  (now  Danville)  and  Derry,  of  which  he  declared  his  accep- 
tance, and  the  Presbytery  made  arrangements  for  his  ordination  and 
installation.  An  adjourned  meeting  was  appointed  to  be  held  at 
Derry,  Northumberland  county,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  December ; 
parts  of  trial  for  ordination  were  assigned  to  Mr.  Patterson,  and  Rev. 
Isaac  Grier  was  appointed  to  preach  the  ordination  sermon,  and  the 
Rev.  David  Wiley  to  preside  and  give  the  charge,  should  the  way 
then  be  clear.  At  the  time]appointed,  Mr.  P.  having  passed  through 
the  usual  examinations  before  ordination  to  the  satisfaction  of  Pres- 
bytery, was  ordained  to  the  full  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry,  and 
installed  pastor  of  the  united  congregations  of  Mahoning  and  Derry. 
Mr.  Patterson  continued  to  be  a  useful  and  highly  esteemed  member 


36  HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESBYTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON. 

of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  till  the  division  of  the  Presbytery 
in  1811,  when  he,  with  his  congregations,  fell  into  the  bounds  of  the 
new  Presbytery  of  Northumberland.  He  continued  to  sustain  the 
pastoral  relation  in  which  he  was  ordained  and  installed  till  1831, 
when  his  pastoral  relation  to  the  congregation  of  Mahoning  was,  at  his 
request,  dissolved,  from  which  time  his  ministerial  labors  were  chiefly 
confined  to  the  congregations  of  Derry  and  Washingtonville,  a  village 
in  the  vicinity  of  which  he  resided  and  where  a  church  had  been 
formed. 

In  the  year  1798,  the  General  Assembly  adopted  certain  "regula- 
tions intended  to  embrace  and  extend  the  existing  rules,  respecting 
the  reception  of  foreign  ministers  and  licentiates."  The  next  year 
the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  requested  the  Assembly  to  reconsider 
and  rescind  these  regulations,  presenting  several  reasons  for  said  re- 
quest. Among  others,  that  these  regulations  were  contrary  to  the 
constitution  of  the  church  till  they  had  been  sent  down  to  the  Presby- 
teries, and  a  majority  of  them  had  given  their  approval  in  writing.  In 
proof  of  this,  they  cited  a  section  from  the  Form  of  Government, 
Chapter  XII,  which  reads  as  follows:  "  Before  any  overtures  or  regula- 
tions proposed  by  the  Assembly  to  be  established  as  constitutional 
rules,  shall  be  obligatory  on  the  churches,  it  shall  be  necessary  to 
transmit  them  to  all  the  Presbyteries,  and  to  receive  the  returns  of  at 
least  a  majority  of  them  in  writing  approving  thereof."  The  commit- 
tee of  the  Assembly  appointed  to  consider  and  report  on  this  matter, 
although  reporting  to  the  Assembly  that  the  request  ontthe  part  of 
the  Presbytery  of  New  York  was  founded  upon  the  misinterpretation 
of  an  ambiguous  expression  in  the  constitution,  yet  recommend  a 
reference  of  this  article  of  the  constitution  to  the  respective  Presby- 
teries for  their  interpretation ;  at  the  same  time  recommending  to 
them  to  advise  and  empower  the  next  Assembly  to  substitute  the 
phrase  Constitutional  Rules,  in  this  article,  in  the  room  of  Standing  Rules. 
The  report  of  the  committee  was  adopted,  and  the  overture  was  sent 
down  to  the  Presbyteries. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  held  in  October,  1799,  the  Presby- 
tery acted  on  this  reference,  and  the  following  minute  was  adopted : 
''To  remove  all  appearance  of  ambiguity  in  the  6th  Section  of  the 
Xllth  Chapter  in  the  Form  of  Government,  it  was  agreed  to  advise  and 
empower  the  General  Assembly  at  their  next  meeting  to  alter  it,  so 
that  Constitutional  Rules  be  read  therein,  instead  of  Standing  Rules, 
though  this  Presbytery  do  not  conceive  that,  even  as  the  section  now 


HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF   HUNTINGDON.  37 

stands,  it  contravenes  the  rule  of  the  General  Assembly  respecting  the 
admission  of  foreigners  to  ministerial  communion.  The  rule  is  highly 
approved  by  this  Presbytery." 

At  this  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  the  Rev.  David  Bard  requested 
leave  to  resign  his  pastoral  charge.  In  accordance  with  the  Book  of 
Discipline,  the  congregation  of  Frankstown  (Hollidaysburg)  was  cited 
to  appear  by  commissioners  at  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery,  and 
oppose  or  consent  to  the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation,  as  the 
case  might  be.  The  next  meeting  of  Presbytery,  which  was  interme- 
diate, held  at  Upper  Tuscarora  Church,  November  5  and  6,  the  congre- 
gation of  Frankstown  appear  by  their  commissioners,  consenting  to 
the  dissolution  of  the  pastor  relation,  "  in  view  of  Mr.  Bard's  circum- 
stances, as  well  as  their  own,"  (although  with  great  reluctance)  and 
the  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved. 

What  were  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  Mr.  Bard  and  the  congre- 
gation, which  required  the  former  to  ask  and  the  latter  to  consent  to 
the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation,  are  now  not  known,  for  there 
is  no  record  on  the  subject,  but  we  know  that  Mr.  Bard  represent- 
ed the  Congressional  District  in  the  House  of  Representatives  for 
several  terms,  and  of  course  there  were  several  months  in  each  year 
when  the  congregation  must  be  without  regular  ministerial  services  so 
far  as  he  was  concerned,  and  this  might  be  a  very  potent  reason  why 
the  pastoral  relation  should  be  dissolved  on  his  part,  or  he  resign  his 
political  position.  And  as  to  what  would  have  been  duty  in  Mr. 
Bard's  circumstances,  between  his  civil  and  ecclesiastical  relations,  at 
this  distance  of  time,  we  may  be  unable  to  determine  with  any  degree 
of  certainty.  We  know  that  persons  qualified  to  represent  the  peo- 
ple in  Congress  were  not  so  numerous  as  in  the  present  times,  neither 
were  qualified  ministers  then  so  numerous  as  they  now  are.  One 
thing  we  are  sure  of,  that  aspirants  to  political  positions  were  neither 
so  numerous  nor  so  'presumptuous  as  now ;  but  as  a  general  rule,  as  it 
regards  ministers  and  civil  or  political  positions,  the  opinion  may  be 
ventured,  that  they  had  better  leave  these  positions  to  those  who  can- 
not preach  the  gospel,  but  may  be  abundantly  qualified  for  the  other. 
To  one  who  is  really  called  to  be  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  we  think 
the  Saviour's  reply  to  one  who  proposed  to  become  his  disciple,  but 
would  first  go  and  bury  his  father,  would  be  worthy  of  his  considera- 
tion, u  Let  the  dead  bury  their  dead ;"  any  body  else  could  do  that  as  well 
as  he  could.  The  circumstances  of  the  congregation  also,  cannot  now 
be  stated,  but  we  suppose  it  to  be  the  old  story,  the  most  common  oc- 


3S  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

casion  of  the  dissolution  of  the  j:>astoral  relation,  the  inability  on  their 
part  to  pay  the  amount  of  salary  required  or  promised.  Since  those 
early  times,  the  circumstances  of  this  congregation,  as  well  as  of 
others,  have  greatly  changed,  and  now,  perhaps,  there  is  no  more  able 
or  liberal  congregation  in  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery. 

The  last  item  of  business  that  is  on  record,  as  engaging  the  atten- 
tion of  Presbytery  for  the  year  1799,  is  a  mutual  agreement  between 
Mr.  Grier  and  the  congregations  which  he  served,  in  regard  to  a 
re-arrangement  of  his  labors  amongst  them,  in  proportion  to  their 
ability  to  pay  the  salary.  Originally,  Mr.  Grier  gave  his  time  in  equal 
proportions  to  Lycoming,  Pine  Creek,  and  Great  Island.  But  it 
becoming  evident  that  Great  Island  was  not  able  to  pay  its  proportion 
of  the  salary,  it  was  mutually  agreed  among  them  that  Mr.  Grier 
should  preach  but  one-fifth  part  of  his  time  at  Great  Island,  and  that 
Great  Island  should  be  obliged  to  pay  him  but  one-fifth  part  of  his 
salary.  The  rest  of  his  time  to  be  divided  between  Pine  Creek  and 
Lycoming;  and  that  they  pay  their  salary  in  proportion;  and  that 
this  agreement  be  binding  for  only  one  year  from  the  preceeding 
October. 

Since  those  times  Presbyterianism  has  made  great  progress.  In 
each  of  the  places,  large  and  strong  congregations  now  exist,  and  in 
one  case  three  or  four.  Lycoming  (Williamsport)  including  New- 
berry, which  was  embraced  originally  in  the  one  congregation  of 
Lycoming ;  Pine  Creek,  now  the  large  and  wealthy  congregation  of 
Jersey  Shore ;  and  Great  Island,  now  Lock  Haven. 

The  year  1800  begins  with  an  effort  to  square  up  accounts  between 
pastors  and  congregations.  A  standing  rule  had  been  adopted  three 
years  before  to  this  effect — "  That  every  congregation  under  the  care 
of  Presbytery  having  a  settled  pastor  give  an  account,  by  a  commis- 
sioner or  commissioners  to  the  Presbytery,  of  the  state  of  salary  at 
every  Spring  meeting."  It  seems  that  this  rule,  if  not  entirely  neg- 
lected, had  in  some  instances  been  overlooked,  therefore  at  the 
Spring  meeting  of  this  year  the  order  was  renewed,  with  a  special 
injunction  to  the  trustees  of  each  congregation  to  send  such  report  to 
the  next  Spring  meeting.  Vol.  I,  p.  117.  And  to  show  that  they 
were  in  earnest  in  this  matter,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  prepare 
a  circular  letter  to  be  addressed  to  the  trustees  of  each  congregation 
under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery. 

At  this  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  there  were  but  three  important 
items  of  business  that  engaged  the  attention  of  the  members:  the 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  39 

one  mentioned  above — the  election  of  commissioners  to  the  approach- 
ing meeting  of  the  General  Assembly — and  the  issuing  of  the  case  of 
the  Rev.  Hugh  Magill,  which  has  already  been  noticed.  It  appears 
that  the  Presbytery  was  then  entitled  to  be  represented  in  the 
Assembly  by  six  commissioners — three  ministers  and  three  elders. 
The  fact  already  noticed,  the  appointment  of  alternates  to  the  minis- 
ters, but  none  for  the  elders,  occurs  again  on  this  occasion.  As 
attendance  at  the  General  Assembly  was  accompanied  with  so  much 
physical  toil  and  expense,  the  Presbytery  might  with  equal  advantage 
have  been  represented  by  half  the  number,  and  the  attendance  made 
more  certain.  Another  important  item  of  business  was  the  appoint- 
ment of  supplies  to  vacant  congregations;  but  this  was  always  a 
principal  item  of  business  at  every  stated  meeting.  And  when  the 
long  and  multifarious  lists  are  examined,  and  we  consider  the  dis- 
tances of  many  of  the  vacancies  from  the  ordinary  residences  of  the 
persons  appointed  to  supply  them,  together  with  the  modes  of  con- 
veyance, and  the  state  of  the  roads,  the  fathers  must  have  endured 
an  immense  deal  of  exjjosure  to  cold  and  heat,  and  bodily  toil,  of 
which  their  successors  now  have  little  or  no  experience. 

And  yet  another  interesting  item  of  business,  as  belonging  to  the 
same  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  (January  7,  1800)  may  be  mentioned 
here.  It  is  important  mostly  in  regard  to  its  issue,  namely  :  the  recep- 
tion of  the  Rev.  James  Simpson,  who  presented  all  the  usual  and  satis- 
factory credentials  and  collateral  testimony  of  good  standing  as  an 
ordained  minister,  from  the  Presbytery  in  the  "  Kingdom  of  Ireland  ;" 
and  was  received  under  probation  by  the  Presbytery,  in  accordance 
with  the  standing  rule  in  regard  to  foreign  'ministers.  It  may  be 
interesting  to  record  here,  once  for  all,  the  process  through  which 
Mr.  Simpson  was  made  to  pass,  as  a  specimen  of  the  pains  taken  by 
the  fathers  of  the  Presbytery  to  secure  a  competent  and  orthodox 
ministry  for  the  churches.     This  minute  is  made, 

Fij^st — "Presbytery  having  received  satisfactory  evidence  of  Mr.  Simp- 
son's literary  attainments,  agreed  to  dispense  with  a  special  examination 
on  the  languages,  arts  and  sciences.   ■ 

Second — Presbytery  then  entered  into  a  free  conversation  with  Mr.  S., 
and  received  full  satisfaction  of  his  soundness  in  the  faith,  and  of  his 
experimental  acquaintance  with  religion.  He  was  also  examined  on  Theol- 
ogy, Church  History  and  Government. 

Third — Mr.  S.,  having  adopted  our  standards  of  doctrine  and  discipline, 
and  promised  subjection  to  the  Presbytery  in  the  Lord,  it  was  agreed  to 
receive  him  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  on  probation." 


40  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

An  application  was  immediately  made  by  Lewistown  and  Wayne 
(McVeytown)  congregations  to  have  Mr.  S.  appointed  their  supply  for 
one  year.  .  This  request  was  substantially  granted  by  the  Presbytery 
giving  Mr.  Simpson  only  two  other  appointments,  and  allowing  him  to 
supply  Lewistown  and  Wayne  at  discretion. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  held  October  6,  1801,  Mr.  S.  was 
admitted  a  member  of  the  Presbytery,  his  papers  having  passed  the 
review  of  the  General  Assembly  previously,  and  the  period  of  his 
probation  being  thus  ended,  and  nothing  appearing  injurious  to  his 
character  up"to  that  time.  But  the  next  day,  at  the  same  meeting  of 
the  Presbytery,  a  "supplication"  was  presented  from  the  united  con- 
gregations of  Lewistown,  Wayne  and  Derry,  on  the  Juniata,  for  Mr.  S. 
for  stated  supply  for  one  year,  in  which  they  promise  to  pay  him  a 
salary  of  £160;  and  at  the  same  time  a  remonstrance  signed  by  a  num- 
ber of  the  inhabitants  of  Lewistown,  opposing  the  settlement  of  Mr. 
S.  among  them  for  any  term  of  time  whatever ;  also  a  remonstrance 
from  Derry  and  Wayne  against  his  settlement  among  them.  The  fol- 
lowing action  was  taken  by  Presbytery  in  view  of  these  remon- 
strances :  "  Whereas,  insinuations  have  been  made  by  remonstrances 
handed  into  Presbytery  by  a  commissioner  from  the  congregations  of 
Derry  and  Wayne,  injurious  to  Mr.  Simpson's  moral  character,  the 
Rev.  Messrs.  John  Johnston,  John  Coulter  and  William  Stuart, 
with  Messrs.  David  Riddle  and  David  Caldwell,  elders,  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Casper  Dull  in 
Waynesburg  (McVeytown),  on  the  15th  day  of  this  month  (October), 
and  inquire  into  the  foundation  of  these  insinuations  and  the  truth  of 
the  reports  said  to  be  in  circulation,  and  to  send  for  those  persons 
who  have  either  in  writing  or  otherwise  circulated  them.  And  if, 
after  inquiry  being  made,  it  appears  that  they  are  without  foundation 
or  cannot  be  supported,  the  stated  clerk  is  ordered  to  furnish  Mr. 
Simpson  with  proper  credentials,  he  being  about  to  travel  out  of  our 
bounds."     Min.  p.p.  142,  143. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  held  in  November  fol- 
lowing, the  committee  reported,  "That  having  examined  witnesses  on 
oath,  brought  before  them  by  Mr.  Simpson's  accusers,  they  found 
nothing  sufficient  to  condemn  him,  or  deprive  him  of  his  credentials." 
The  minutes  of  the  committee  were  submitted  to  the  Presbytery, 
read,  and  their  proceedings  approved.  However,  at  the  stated  meet- 
ing of  the  Presbytery,  April  2,  1802,  a  paper  was  presented  to  Presby- 
tery, signed  by  three  respectable  church   members,  pledging  them- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY   OF   HUNTINGDON.  41 

selves  to  prove  some  aggravated  charges,  as  to  moral  delinquency, 
against  Mr.  Simpson.-  Upon  which  Presbytery  appointed  an  adjourned 
meeting,  to  be  held  at  Lewistown,  the  3d  Tuesday  in  June  following, 
and  cited  Mr.  S.  to  appear  and  answer  to  the  charges  exhibited 
against  him  by  these  persons. 

At  the  time  appointed  the  Presbytery  met  to  try  the  charges 
brought  against  Mr.  Simpson;  heard  the  witnesses  on  the  part  of  his 
accusers  and  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Simpson,  (it  appears  that  there  was  no 
church  building  then  in  Lewistown,  so  they  met  in  the  Court  House.) 
The  Presbytery  considered  that  the  charges  were  fully  substantiated, 
and  suspended  him  from  the  ministry. 

As  this  may  appear  inconsistent  with  the  report  of  the  committee 
sent  to  inquire  into  the  reports  injurious  to  Mr.  Simpson's  character  a 
short  time  before,  and  "the  approval  of  their  proceedings  in  the  case, 
the  following  action  was  immediately  had  by  the  Presbytery  at  the 
conclusion  of  Mr.  Simpson's  case,  viz  :  "  Whereas,  it  has  been  intimated 
to  Presbytery  at  our  last  Spring  meeting,  and  there  now  appears  some 
reason  to  suspect  that  the  committee  appointed  to  meet  at  Waynes- 
burg  in  October  last,  to  inquire  into  the  truth  and  grounds  of  the 
insinuations  that  had  been  made  injurious  to  the  character  of  Mr.  S., 
did  not  transact  that  businesss  altogether  consistently  with  the  in- 
structions of  Presbytery.  Resolved,  that  citations  be  issued  to  those 
persons  who  were  members  of  that  committee,  and  also  to  Judge 
Oliver  and  Gen.  John  Bratton,  to  attend  at  our  next  fall  meeting  at 
East  Kishacoquillas."  At  the  fall  meeting,  as  cited,  the  committee 
being  present,  and  being  heard  in  explanation  of  their  proceedings, 
the  following  minute  was  made  :  "  Upon  hearing  the  committee  ap- 
pointed on  Mr.  Simpson's  case,  the  Presbytery  are  of  opinion  that  any 
impropriety  that  took  place  in  that  transaction  proceeded  from  inad- 
vertency and  not  from  design." 

At  the  same  meeting  Mr.  Simpson  applied  to  Presbytery  to  be 
restored  to  his  former  ministerial  standing,  professing  sorrow  for  the 
crime  of  intemperance  and  other  irregularities,  but  denying  the  most 
aggravated  charge  brought  against  him,  and  asking  Presbytery  to  be 
permitted  to  bring  forward  some  evidence  which  had  been  obtained 
since  the  last  meeting,  which  he  supposed  would  invalidate  the  testi- 
mony then  given  as  to  that  part  of  the  charge.  Presbytery  consented 
to  hear  said  witnesses,  but  after  hearing,  did  not  see  cause  to  modify 
their  verdict  or  restore  Mr.  Simpson. 


42  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  April,  1803,  Mr.  S.  applied 
again  to  be  restored,  professing  the  deepest  penitence  and  humiliation 
for  his  past  conduct,  particularly  for  those  irregularities  which  were 
the  cause  of  his  suspension,  at  the  same  time  expressing  his  acquies- 
cence in  the  proceedings  of  Presbytery  in  his  case,  and  acknowledging 
the  justice  of  the  sentence  passed  on  him,  which  he  admitted  to  be 
unavoidable  from  the  evidence  which  appeared,  although  his  con- 
science (he  said)  would  not  permit  him  to  acknowledge  real  guilt  in 
regard  to  the  more  aggravated  charge.  He  also  expressed  deep  sorrow 
for  his  disorderly  conduct  since,  particularly  for  continuing  to  preach 
in  open  contempt  of  the  authority  of  Presbytery,  and  on  these  pro- 
fessions asked  to  be  restored  to  the  exercise  of  his  ministry.  Presby- 
tery approved  of  Mr.  Simpson's  professions  of  penitence,  but  could  not 
see  the  way  clear  to  restore  him  until  a  correspondent  reformation 
evinced  the  sincerity  of  that  repentance,  which  he  himself  acknowledg- 
ed to  be  very  recent.  On  the  refusal  of  the  Presbytery  to  remove  his 
suspension,  Mr.  S.  "snatched"  the  paper  containing  his  confession 
from  the  clerk's  desk,  treated  the  authority  of  Presbytery  with 
marked  contempt,  and  gave  to  every  member  present  ocular  evidence 
that  the  whole  of  his  solemn  professions  were  fallacious  and  hypocriti- 
cal. Whereupon  it  was  resolved,  (in  view  of  the  whole  case — his 
conduct  in  times  past,  and  what  occurred  immediately  before  the 
Presbytery,)  that  Mr.  Simpson  be  deposed  from  the  ministry,  and  he 
was  accordingly  deposed. 

Mr.  Simpson  gave  notice  of  appeal  from  the  judgment  of  the  Pres- 
bytery, and  the  clerk  was  ordered  to  furnish  him  with  a  copy  of  the 
proceedings  in  his  case.  Whether  this  appeal  was  ever  prosecuted 
before  the  higher  courts  the  writer  has  no  present  means  of  ascer- 
taining. One  thing  is  certain,  the  sentence  of  disposition  was  never 
reversed,  the  minutes  of  that  year  being  reviewed  by  the  Synod,  and 
no  exception  taken  but  to  a  few  verbal  inaccuracies.  Of  Mr.  S.  no 
future  mention  is  made  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Presbytery.  What 
became  of  Mr.  Simpson  afterwards  there  may  be  those  living  who 
could  give  some  account,  but  it  is  not  important.  From  all  that  is 
recorded  of  him,  it  may  be  reasonably  inferred,  that  he  was  a  man  of 
^rood  education,  classical  and  otherwise,  possessing  considerable  popular 
talent  as  a  preacher,  and  plausible  address,  for  as  soon  as  lie  had  any 
connection  with  the  Presbytery  applications  were  made  from  impor- 
tant congregations  for  his  services,  and  the  Preshytery  at  his  reception 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  43 

as  a  probationer  from  a  foreign  land,  expressed  entire  satisfaction  with 
his  examinations.  That  which  lay  at  the  foundation  of  the  destruc- 
tion of  his  moral,  and  religious  and  ministerial  character,  was  the 
accursed  chunking  habits  of  the  country  from  which  he  came ;  habits 
by  no  means  suitably  discouraged  in  the  country  to  which  he  came. 
Many  persons  were  tainted  with  this  vicious  habit,  who  nevertheless 
were  capable  of  putting  such  a  restraint  upon  their  appetite,  that  by 
no  public  and  overt  act,  did  they  expose  themselves  to  ecclesiastical 
discipline.  But  now  we  return  and  give  an  account  of  other  matters 
which  occurred  during  the  year  eighteen  hundred,  beyond  which  we 
have  been  carried,  with  the  design  of  giving  a  connected  history  of 
Mr.  Simpson's  connection  with  the  Presbytery.  At  the  Fall  meeting 
of  this  year  a  committee  was  appointed  to  inspect  the  credentials  of 
itinerating  and  foreign  ministers,  who  might  come  into  the  bounds  of 
the  Presbytery  during  the  recess,  and  if  the  way  be  clear,  make  them 
appointments  and  give  them  written  recommendations  to  vacancies, 
at  least  two  members  of  the  committee,  being  necessary  to  certify  the 
credentials  of  a  foreign  minister.  Rev.  Messrs.  James  Johnston, 
Matthew  Stephens,  John  Johnston,  Hugh  Morrison,  John  Bryson. 
and  David  Wiley  were  appointed  said  committee. 

A  petition  was  at  this  meeting  presented  to  the  Presbytery  by  some 
of  the  members  of  Buffalo  congregation,  stating  that  the  congrega- 
tion had  signed  an  obligation  to  Mr.  Morrison,  the  pastor,  on  his  first 
coming  to  settle  among  them  as  their  minister,  binding  themselves  to 
the  payment  of  £75  annually  to  him  during  his  incumbency.  That 
from  death,  removal  and  other  causes,  a  few  only  of  the  persons 
bound  for  the  payment  of  the  money  now  remained  in  the  congre- 
gation, they  therefore  prayed  the  Presbytery  for  direction  and  relief. 

In  accordance  with  this  petition,  a  committee  of  three  ministers 
and  three  elders  was  appointed  to  meet  at  Buffalo  Church,  on  the  2d 
Tuesday  of  November  following,  to  assist  in  devising  and  carrying 
into  effect  such  measures  as  may  be  thought  best  calculated  to  relieve 
the  petitioners,  and  promote  the  best  interests  of  the  congregation; 
and  the  congregation  was  "enjoined  to  have  their  papers  and  accounts 
so  arranged  by  the  time  the  committee  meet,  that  a  full  settlement  of 
all  arrearages  may  be  made  with  Mr.  Morrison."  At  the  next  meeting 
of  Presbytery,  April  21,  1802,  Mr.  Patterson  in  behalf  of  the  commit- 
tee reported  "That  the  commissioners  on  the  part  of  the  congrega- 
tion, not  being  prepared  to  exhibit  their  accounts,  they  were   unable 


44  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON. 

to  act  in  the  premises."  This  matter  will  come  up  in  another  shape 
at  a  future  meeting  of  the  Presbytery. 

This  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  and  this  year,  are  distinguished  by 
the  prospect  of  a  large  accession  to  the  ministry  of  the  Presbytery. 
Messrs.  William  Stuart  and  John  Coulter,  licentiates  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  New  Castle,  presented  certificates  of  their  standing  and 
licensure,  and  were  received  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery. 
These  brethren  lived  to  be  Patriarchs  in  the  Presbytery — living  and 
dying  pastors  of  the  congregations  in  which  they  were  ordained  and 
installed,  after  pastorates  of  thirty-three  years  each.  Though  they 
were  taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  at  the  same  meeting,  and 
both  received  the  calls  which  they  accepted,  and  served  their  congre- 
gations the  same  length  of  time,  yet  it  could  not  be  said  that  they 
were  joined  in  their  deaths.  Mr.  Coulter  died  in  1834,  but  Mr. 
Stuart  was  much  the  older  man,  for  he  was  in  the  76th  year  of  his 
age  when  he  resigned  his  charge  in  the  fall  of  1834,  but  lived  fourteen 
years  afterwards.  Calls  were  presented  for  each  of  these  brethren  to 
the  Presbytery  at  the  same  meeting  at  which  they  were  received.  Mr. 
Stuart  was  called  to  Spring  Creek,  Sinking  Creek,  and  East  Penns 
Valley  ;  and  Mr.  Coulter  to  Middle  and  Lower  Tuscarora.  Mr.  Coul- 
ter was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  united  congregations  of 
Middle  and  Lower  Tuscarora,  August  11,  1801 ;  and  Mr.  Stuart  of  the 
united  congregations  of  Spring  Creek,  Sinking  Creek  and  East  Penns 
Valley,  on  the  7th  of  October,  the  same  year.  As  calls  were  presented 
for  Messrs.  Stuart  and  Coulter  at  the  same  meeting  of  Presbytery  by 
which  they  were  received  from  New  Castle  Presbytery,  of  course  they 
had  preached  as  candidates  in  the  congregations  which  afterwards 
called  them,  by  the  authority  of  committee  appointed  to  inspect  and 
examine  licentiates  and  ministers  coming  within  the  bounds  of  the 
Psesbytery,  as  to  the  validity  of  their  credentials. 

At  the  same  meeting  of  Presbytery  (April  22,  1801)  at  which 
Messrs.  Stuart  and  Coulter  were  received  as  licentiates  under  the 
care  of  Presbytery,  Mr.  William  Jackson,  a  licentiate  formerly  under 
the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Derry,  in  the  ''Kingdom  of  Ireland," 
presented  his  credentials  from  said  Presbytery,  and  other  collateral 
testimony  of  his  licensure  and  good  moral  character ;  and  was  receiv- 
ed under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  and  taken  on  trial.  In  October, 
1802,  Mr.  Jackson  was  recognized  as  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery, 
with  the  approval  of  the  General  Assembly.     He  received  and  gener- 


HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  45 

ally  fulfilled  appointments  to  supply  vacancies,  and  in  April,  1803, 
received  a  call  from  the  congregation  of  Greenwood,  with  the  promise 
of  a  salary  of  £50  to  be  paid  semi-annually.  This  call  Mr.  Jackson 
held  for  some  time  under  consideration,  then  accepted  it,  and  before 
the  time  at  which  his  ordination  and  installation  were  to  take  place, 
asked  leave  to  return  the  call.  Before  consenting  to  the  return  of  the 
call,  Presbytery  took  occasion  to  consult  the  congregation  of  Green- 
wood (as  it  is  called  in  the  minutes)  but  really  of  Buffalo  township  on 
the  Juniata.  The  congregation  consenting,  the  call  was  returned.  Mr. 
Jackson  had  studied  medicine,  and  was  engaged  pretty  extensively  in 
the  practice  of  it,  and  finding  it  impracticable  to  fulfil  the  appoint- 
ments given  him  from  time  to  time,  finally  came  to  the  conclusion  to 
resign  his  license  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  give  himself  wholly  to  the 
practice  of  medicine ;  which  he  did  in  1807,  with  the  full  consent  of 
the  Presbytery. 

At  the  Spring  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  at  Spruce  Creek,  April, 
1801,  the  Rev.  Isaac  Grier  made  request  that  his  pastoral  relation  to 
the  congregation  of  Lycoming  be  dissolved,  on  account  of  neglect  on 
their  part  to  pay  the  amount  of  salary  which  they  had  promised. 
They  received  only  one-third  of  Mr.  Grier's  time.  The  congregation 
was  cited  to  appear  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  to  show 
cause,  if  any  they  had,  why  Mr.  Grier's  request  should  not  be 
granted.  The  congregation  did  not  appear  by  commissioners,  as 
cited ;  and  Mr.  G.  renewing  his  request,  it  was  granted,  and  the  con- 
gregation declared  vacant.  But  as  the  congregation  were  in  arrears 
to  Mr.  Grier,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  visit  the  congregation  to 
inquire  into  its  state,  and  use  means  to  induce  them  to  discharge  the 
arrears  due  to  their  late  pastor.  This  committee  failed  to  visit  the 
congregation  according  to  the  appointment  of  Presbytery,  for  which 
they  gave  their  reasons  at  a  following  meeting,  which  were  approved 
by  the  Presbytery ;  but  Mr.  John  Bryson  and  Mr.  Patterson  were  at 
the  same  time  appointed  to  prepare  a  letter  to  the  congregation  of 
Lycoming  respecting  their  peculiar  situation,  and  the  necessity  of 
their  compliance  with  the  injunctions  of  Presbytery.  This  contro- 
versy between  the  Presbytery  and  the  congregation  continued  for  a 
number  of  years,  the  Presbytery  repeatedly  enjoining  on  the  congre- 
gation a  final  settlement  and  the  payment  of  the  arrears  due  to  Mr. 
Grier;  and  the  congregation  obstinately  refusing  or  neglecting,  till 
the  Presbytery  passed  the  following  minute:  "Presbytery  finding 
that  the  congregation  of  Lycoming  have  not  complied,  in  any  degree, 


46  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

with  their  repeated  injunctions  with  respect  to  Mr.  CIrier,  their 
former  pastor,  are  of  the  opinion  that  no  supplies  should  at  this  time 
be  granted  to  said  congregation."  It  would  seem  that,  after  all,  no 
final  settlement  was  obtained  till  the  civil  court  appointed  a  certain 
John  Kidd,  Esq.,  to  settle  with  the  trustees  of  the  congregation, 
when  the  principal  and  the  interest  of  seven  or  eight  years  were  paid. 
How  long  it  took  the  congregation  to  recover  character,  after  so  long 
a  controversy  carried  on  in  regard  to  the  payment  of  a  just  debt  to  so 
good  a  man,  and  so  able  a  pastor,  and  against  the  unanimous  judg- 
ment of  the  Presbytery,  it  might  be  worth  something  to  know. 

At  the  same  meeting  of  Presbytery,  in  which  the  above  affair  about 
the  payment  of  arrearages  due  to  Mr.  Grier  by  Lycoming  congrega- 
tion was  first  under  consideration,  (June  17,  1801,)  two  commissioners 
from  the  congregation  of  Buffalo  presented  a  petition  to  have  the 
pastoral  relation  between  them  and  Rev.  Hugh  Morrison  dissolved. 
The  Presbytery  cited  Mr.  M.  to  appear  at  an  adjourned  meeting  to  be 
held  in  Tuscarora  Valley,  on  the  11th  of  August,  to  show  cause,  if  any 
he  had,  why  the  petition  should  not  be  granted.  At  the  adjourned 
meeting  the  petition  was  renewed,  the  same  commissioners  being 
present,  and  at  the  same  time  a  counter  petition  was  presented  by  the 
friends  of  Mr.  Morrison,  praying  that  he  might  be  continued  as  their 
pastor.  After  hearing  both  parties  by  their  commissioners,  Presby- 
tery appointed  a  committee  consisting  of  Revs.  John  Bryson  and 
John  B.  Patterson,  and  Messrs.  William  Montgomery  and  David 
Ireland,  elders,  to  visit  and  inquire  into  the  state  of  the  congrega- 
tion, and  report  to  Presbytery  at  its  next  meeting. 

This  committee  reported  at  the  time  appointed,  that  they  had 
visited  the  congregation,  taken  a  vote  of  the  congregation  after  public 
notice,  and  it  appeared  that  there  were  forty-three  members  of  the 
congregation  who  were  in  favor  of  a  separation  from  Mr.  M.  and 
twenty-nine  who  were  for  continuing  him  as  their  pastor.  At  the 
same  time  another  petition  was  presented  by  two  commissioners  on 
the"  part  of  the  majority,  urging  a  separation,  and  a  remonstrance  on 
the  part  of  the  minority,  charging  that  improper  means  had  been 
used  at  the  time  of  the  vote,  by  the  opponents  of  Mr.  M.  to  obtain  a 
majority  against  him.  Another  petition  was  likewise  laid  before 
Presbytery,  signed  by  the  elders  of  the  united  congregations  of  Sun- 
bury  and  Northumberland,  containing  a  representation  of  the  griev- 
ances under  which  they  would  labor,  in  case  Mr.  M.  should  be 
dismissed  from  the  congregation  of  Buffalo. 


HISTORY    FO    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  47 

Presbytery  heard  both  parties  at  very  considerable  length,  and  it 
seems  that  in  the  course  of  the  proceedings  in  this  case,  charges  of  a 
character  serious  enough  to  demand  the  investigation  of  Presbytery 
were  made,  either  verbally  or  in  writing ;  whereupon  Presbytery  re- 
solved to  hold  an  adjourned  meeting  in  Buffalo  Church,  on  the  2d 
Tuesday  of  November,  and  that  Mr.  M.  be  cited  to  appear  to  answer 
to  the  charges  exhibited  against  him  by  the  commissioners  of  Buffalo 
congregation. 

The  Presbytery  met  according  to  adjournment  at  Buffalo  Church  to 
investigate  the  charge  or  charges  (for  there  is  no  record  of  any  formal 
charge)  made  against  Mr.  Morrison.  They  spent  the  greater  part  of 
two  days  in  hearing  the  witnesses  of  both  parties,,  and  came  to  the 
following  conclusion  :  "  The  Presbytery  having  heard  all  the  witnesses 
brought  forward  by  both  parties,  and  after  seriously  weighing  and 
comparing  the  witnesses  for  and  against  Mr.  Morrison,  with  respect 
to  his  drinking  liquors  to  excess,  agreed,  that  although  they  could 
not,  on  the  testimony  given,  convict  him  of  drunkenness,  yet  they 
were  of  opinion  that  he  has  on  certain  occasions  transgressed  the 
bounds  of  Christian  prudence  in  that  respect,  and  he  is  hereby  cau- 
tioned to  be  more  watchful  and  circumspect  in  future.''  To  us  at  this 
distant  period,  the  justice  of  this  rendering  of  the  Presbytery,  would 
seem  evident.  We  are  not  to  bring  our  modern  views  and  habits  in 
regard  to  temperance,  especially  of  total  abstinence,  to  bear  upon  our 
minds  in  reviewing  the  decision  in  this  case.  It  was  then  considered 
no  impropriety  in  a  minister  of  the  gospel  to  drink  spirituous  liquors, 
and  if  his  accusers  had  been  put  to  the  test  to  which  Ghrist  put  the 
accusers  of  the  woman  taken  in  adultery,  it  is  doubtful  whether  they 
would  not,  one  by  one,  have  left  the  house.  They  had,  perhaps,  many 
times  held  the  bottle  to  his  mouth,  and,  had  he  refused  it,  would  have 
considered  him  sour  and  unsociable.  They  tempted  him  to  that 
excess  of  which  they  accused  him,  and  for  which  he  was  censured. 
If  they  had  been  put  on  self-defence,  perhaps  they  might  have  said 
that  they  had  put  a  greater  restraint  upon  themselves,  but  they  were 
not  so  frequently  tempted  as  he  was.  No  absolute  drunkenness  after 
all  was  proven.  But  in  the  divided  state  of  the  congregation,  and 
the  little  prospect  of  his  usefulness  by  continuance,  the  Presbytery 
sundered  the  pastoral  relation  at  this  time. 

There  was  a  party  in  the  church  always  adhering  to  Mr.  Morrison, 
and  as  supposed,  at  their  solicitation,  he  continued  to  preach  to  them. 
'I  nis  of  course  was  irregular,  ill-judged,  and  a  source  of  annoyance 


48  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON. 

and  distraction  to  the  congregation.  The  Presbytery  forbade  his 
preaching  within  the  bounds  of  the  congregation  without  the  invita- 
tion of  the  Session,  or  the  appointment  of  Presbytery.  He  was  cited 
to  appear  before  Presbytery  and  give  an  account  of  his  irregularities, 
particularly  for  preaching  in  the  bounds  of  Buffalo  congregation  con- 
trary to  the  will  of  the  Session  and  the  orders  of  Presbytery.  Not 
obeying  the  first  citation  he  was  cited  again  and  again.  Before  the 
issuing  of  the  last  citation  the  Eev.  John  Bryson  gave  reasons  in  his 
behalf  why  he  had  not  obeyed  the  former  citations,  which  were  per- 
fectly satisfactory  to  the  brethren  of  the  Presbytery.  These  reasons 
may  be  presumed  to  be  the  infirmities  of  old  age,  or  the  pressure  of 
disease,  as  before  the  time  for  his  appearance  designated  in  the  last 
citation  arrived,  he  had  passed  beyond  the  supervision  of  all  earthly 
tribunals.     He  died  on  the  15th  of  September,  1804. 

On  the  10th  of  November,  1801,  a  name  appears  for  the  first  time 
in  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery,  which  afterwards  became  greatly 
distinguished,  not  in  the  Presbytery,  but  in  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  among  the  educators  of  the  land,  the  Rev.  Matthew  Brown,  D. 
D.  On  the  day  above  named  he  was  received  as  a  licentiate  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  by  which  a  call  had  been  put  into  his  hands 
from  Mifflintown  and  Lost  Creek.  Arrangements  were  made  during 
this  meeting  for  his  ordination  and  installation  at  the  regular  Spring 
meeting  of  the  Presbyteiy,  to  be  held  for  this  purpose  at  Mifflintown, 
on  the  3d  Tuesday  of  April,  1802,  and  Matthew  5:17-26  was  assigned 
to  Mr.  Brown  as  a  subject  for  a  lecture ;  and  Heb.  3 :  12,  as  the  sub- 
ject for  a  sermon,  in  view  of  his  ordination.  The  Rev.  John  B. 
Patterson  was  appointed  to  preach  the  ordination  sermon,  and  the 
Rev.  John  Bryson  to  preside  and  give  the  charge.  Accordingly,  on 
the  25th  of  April,  1802,  Mr.  Brown  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor 
of  the  churches  of  Mifflintown  and  Lost  Creek. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  of  Presbytery  held  at  Lewistown,  June 
16,  1802,  the  Rev.  Thomas  L.  Birch,  an  ordained  minister  from  Ire- 
land, applied  to  be  taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  agreeably  to 
the  rules  prescribed  by  the  General  Assembly  relative  to  foreign  min- 
isters ;  but  not  being  able  at  present  to  lay  before  Presbytery  his 
credentials  and  other  collateral  testimony,  and  Presbytery  being  also 
informed  that  certain  reports  were  in  circulation  in  the  bounds  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Ohio  very  injurious  to  his  moral  character,  his  request 
was  refused. 


PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH,    BELLEFONTE,   PA. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY   OF   HUNTINGDON.  49 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  Mr.  Birch  appeared,  and  requested  to  be 
taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  as  a  foreign  minister.  He  appears 
then  to  have  had  the  usual  credentials,  and  the  necessary  collateral 
testimony ;  but  because  of  those  reports  still  in  circulation  against 
him  in  the  West,  and  the  fact  that  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio  would 
have  nothing  more  to  do  with  him  because  of  these  reports,  and  not 
having  received  satisfaction  as  to  his  acquaintance  with  experimental 
religion,  the  Presbytery  again  refused  to  receive  him  to  membership. 

Six  months  afterwards,  while  the  Presbytery  was  holding  its  Spring 
meeting  at  Bellefonte,  Mr.  Birch  appeared,  and  gave  notice  of  his 
intention  to  complain  to  the  General  Assembly  against  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Presbytery  in  his  case.  There  is  no  evidence  that  this 
complaint  was  ever  carried  to  the  General  Assembly.  What  became 
of  Mr.  Birch  afterwards  there  is  nothing  on  record  to  show ;  but  the 
writer  remembers  to  have  seen  Mr.  Birch  at  his  father's  house  when 
he  was  a  boy,  as  late  as  the  year  1818,  or  about  that  time;  it  could 
not  have  been  much  later.  In  personal  appearance,  if  not  mistaken 
in  the  person,  he  was  a  large,  fleshy  man,  and  then  must  have  been 
considerably  beyond  the  meridian  of  life,  apparently  near  the  age  of 
his  host,  who  was  then  sixty  or  sixty-five  years  of  age.  It  is  confi- 
dently believed  that  he  never  was  recognized  as  a  regularly  authorized 
minister  in  any  evangelical  church  after  he  came  to  this  country ;  and 
it  is  not  certain  that  he  ever  did  preach  much  anywhere  after  he 
failed  to  get  a  recognition  in  the  Presbyterian  church. 

It  is  refreshing,  after  the  record  of  such  cases  as  the  above,  to 
record  the  accession  of  a  name  to  the  roll  of  the  Presbytery,  who 
lived  long  to  be  an  honored  and  useful  servant  of  the  Master  and  his 
Church,  Mr.  Henry  R.  Wilson,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Car- 
lisle, applied  to  be  received  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery,  October 
6,  1802.  Having  presented  the  required  certificate  of  character, 
licensure,  and  dismission  from  Carlisle  Presbytery,  he  was  taken 
under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery.  At  the  same  time  a  call  was  pre- 
sented for  Mr.  Wilson  from  the  united  congregations  of  Bellefonte 
and  Lick  Run.  Mr.  Wilson  accepted  the  call;  was  ordained  and 
installed  on  the  20th  day  of  April,  1803,  and  continued  to  serve  these 
two  congregations,  with  great  success,  till  the  fall  of  1809,  when  he 
returned  to  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  from  whence  he  came,-to  take 
charge  of  one  and  another  congregations  within  their  bounds. 

The  Rev.  Isaac  Grier  made  application  at  the  meeting  of  Presby- 
tery in  October,  1803,  to  have  his  pastoral  relation  to  the  congrega- 


50  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

tion  of  Great  Island  (Lock  Haven)  dissolved,  because  of  their 
inability  to  pay  the  salary  which  they  originally  promised,  on  account 
of  removals  from  the  congregation;  with  this  understanding,  "that 
lie  continue  to  preach  and  perform  other  ministerial  duties  among 
them  as  heretofore."  The  object  of  this  proviso  on  Mr.  Grier's  part 
was,  that  the  congregation  might  enjoy  the  ordinances  of  religion  till 
they  could  make  arrangements  to  be  permanently  supplied ;  and  at 
the  same  time  Mr.  G.  might  arrange  to  otherwise  dispose  of  that  por- 
tion of  his  time  formerly  given  to  Great  Island.  His  request  in  this 
matter  was  granted. 

The  year  previous  to  the  dissolution  of  Mr.  Grier's  relation  to  Great 
Island  congregation,  he  took  charge  of  a  classical  school  in  Jersey 
Shore,  near  to  which  he  resided.  This  became  necessary  on  account 
(if  the  smallness  of  his  salary,  even  before  Great  Island  became 
unable  to  pay  their  portion  of  his  salary. 

At  the  same  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  the  name  of  Mr.  John 
Hutcheson  first  appears  upon  the  minutes,  being  introduced  to  Pres- 
bytery as  a  student  preparing  for  the  ministry,  to  be  taken  under  the 
care  of  the  Presbytery.  He  was  so  received,  and  several  parts  of 
trial  were  assigned  to  him  with  a  view  to  his  licensure  at  the  proper 
time.  On  the  3d  day  of  October,  1804,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the 
gospel  as  a  probationer. 

From  time  to  time  we  find  references  made  in  the  proceedings  of 
Presbytery  to  the  missionary  fund,  and  to  missionary  contributions. 
At  almost  every  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  inquiry  was  made 
of  the  members  as  to  their  diligence  in  this  matter,  and  delinquents 
were  enjoined  to  attend  to  the  making  of  contributions  by  their  par- 
ticular churches,  before  the  time  to  report  to  the  committee,  or  Board 
of  Missions  of  the  General  Assembly.  The  Standing  Committee  of 
Missions  of  the  Assembly  was  not  appointed  till  1802,  and  a  Board  of 
Missions  not  till  1816.  The  money  contributed  for  missionary  pur- 
poses had  reference  chiefly  to  domestic  missions ;  indeed  altogether, 
for  the.  Church  had  not  yet  engaged  as  a  Church  in  the  work  of 
Foreign  Missions.  Together  with  the  destitute  white  population  in 
our  land,  the  Indians  upon  the  borders  of  civilization,  and  the  colored 
slaves,  were  the  utmost  objects  of  missionary  labor  and  contributions. 
Domestic  missions,  as  at  first  conducted,  oftentimes  consisted  in  the 
pastors  of  the  churches  spending  a  month  or  two  at  a  time  in  visiting 
and  preaching  in  portions  of  the  country  where  there  were  entire 
destitutions    of   the  means  of  grace.     The  members  of  Huntingdon 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  51 

presbytery  could  do  little  of  this  missionary  service,  so  numerous  were 
the  vacancies  among  themselves.  Yet  we  find  on  two  occasions  the 
Presbytery  by  a  formal  vote  recommending  two  of  their  members  to 
tie-  standing  committee  of  the  Assembly,  as  suitable  persons  to  be 
employed  in  missionary  service.  It  is  probable  that  the  main  reason 
which  induced  the  Presbytery  to  recommend  the  particular  persons 
whom  they  did,  was  the  fact  that  they  were  then  without  any  pastoral 
charge.  , 

At  first  the  contributions  made  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presby- 
tery for  missionary  purposes  were  sent  to  the  common  treasury,  but 
such  was  the  happy  enlargement  in  the  contributions  for  this  object, 
that  the  Presbytery  deemed  it  advisable  to  appoint  a  special  Treasurer 
of  missionary  funds  about  this  time.  The  Kev.  William  Stuart,  then 
pastor  of  Spring  Creek  and  Sinking  Creek,  was  appointed  the  treasu- 
rer, October  3,  1804.  And  now  we  turn  back  a  little  in  the  record,  to 
refer  to  one  of  those  unhappy  events,  which,  alas !  were  only  too 
common  in  those  primitive  times.  Charges  were  laid  before  the  Presby- 
tery, in  the  name  of  a  responsible  accuser,  greatly  compromising  the 
moral  character  of  the  Rev.  Matthew  Stephens,  pastor  of  Shaver's 
Creek  Church.  With  the  consent  of  j>arties  the  case  was  tried  at  the 
same  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  at  which  the  charges  were  tabled. 
The  Presbytery  were  in  session  in  Shaver's  Creek  Church  at  the  time 
within  the  bounds  of  which  the  offense,  or  offenses  had  been  com- 
mitted, and  the  witnesses  and  parties  lived.  The  case  was  taken  up 
the  next  day  after  the  charge  was  tabled.  On  that  day  all  the  wit- 
nesses on  both  sides  and  the  parties  were  heard,  but  the  final  judg- 
ment of  the  Presbytery  deferred  until  the  next  day.  The  following 
day  the  decision  of  the  Presbytery  is  thus  recorded:  "After  the  most 
mature  deliberation,  and  seriously  weighing  the  testimony  on  both 
sides,  Presbytery  were  of  the  opinion,  that  although  his  conduct  did 
not  evince  any  criminal  intention  with  respect  to  Miss  Polly  Camp- 
bell, yet  the  charges  are  fully  substantiated.  Whereupon,  it  was 
unanimously  agreed,  that  the  Rev.  Matthew  Stephens  be  suspended 
from  the  exercise  of  the  Gospel  ministry,  and  he  is  hereby  suspend- 
ed.'- It  is  added,  "  Mr.  Stephens  submitted  to  the  decision  of  Pres- 
bytery." Mr.  Stephens  was  too  shrewd  a  man  to  show  any  spirit  of 
insubordination  at  the  time.  The  favorable  result  of  his  uncomplain- 
ing submission  to  the  decision  of  Presbytery,  appeared  in  a  short  time 
afterwards.  Yet  when  the  hasty  and  impetuous  character  of  the 
man  is  considered,  it  is  wonderful.     It  is  perhaps  the  most  gracious  lih 


52  HISTORY   OF    THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON. 

act  of  his  whole  life,  but  we  know  not  whether  it  were  the  effect  of 
grace  or  of  human  wisdom ;  for  Mr.  Stephens  was  a  man  of  mind  with 
many  rough  points  of  character.  However,  at  the  adjourned  meeting 
of  Presbytery.,  held  at  Warrior  Run  in  June  following  his  suspension, 
a  petition  was  laid  before  Presbytery,  signed  by  sixty -four  members  of 
Shaver's  Creek  congregation,  asking  for  the  removal  of  his  suspension, 
and  the  Presbytery,  after  investigation  and  due  consideration,  restored 
him  to  his  former  standing.  That  they  acted  in  this  matter  con- 
scientiously, and  in  view  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case  as  represent- 
ed to  them  may  not  be  doubted,  in  view  of  the  names  recorded  as 
present  and  acting  in  the  case.  Anything  which  afterwards  occurred, 
and  could  not  have  been  foreseen  by  the  members  of  Presbytery, 
should  not  be  considered  as  demonstrating  the  impropriety  of  this  act 
of  restoration  at  the  time. 

The  number  of  ministers  composing  the  Presbytery  was  small  com- 
pared with  extent  of  the  territory  to  be  cultivated,  although  additions 
of  ministers  were  being  made  from  time  to  time.  But  unhappily  (for 
the  fields  to  be  cultivated)  all  could  not  be  retained  who  came  into 
the  Presbytery.  For  the  church  at  large  these  changes,  we  have  no 
doubt  did  result  in  greater  good.  Those  who  removed  were  provi- 
dentially directed  doubtless,  yet  we  know  that  God  often  overrules 
an  unadvised,  even  a  wrong  act  for  greater  good.  There  is  no  doubt 
that  the  change  which  we  are  now  about  to  record,  if  it  resulted 
in  making  Mr.  Brown  President  of  Washington  College,  and  after- 
wards the  distinguished,  honored,  and  successful  President  of  Jeffer- 
son College,  was  according  to  the  will  of  Cod,  as  indicated  by  his 
providence. 

A  pro  re  nata  meeting  of  Presbytery  was  held  at  Mifflintown,  on  the 
20th  of  March,  1805,  to  consider  Rev.  M.  Brown's  request  for  the 
dissolution  of  his  pastoral  relation  to  Mifflintown  and  Lost  Creek. 
There  was  no  dissatisfaction  existing  between  Mr.  B.  and  these  con- 
gregations, but  a  strong  desire  on  their  part  to  retain  him,  while  they 
yielded  to  his  wishes.  His  reasons,  as  assigned  to  Presbytery  for 
believing  it  to  be  his  duty  to  make  a  change  were,  "  that  he  could 
not  find  that  comfort,  or  expect  that  usefulness  which  was.  desirable, 
and  which  he  had  reasrm  to  expect  in  another  place,  while  he  had  no 
complaint  to  make  against  his  congregations."  The  Presbytery  dis- 
solved his  pastoral  relation  according  to  his  request.  At  the  same 
time  a  call  for  Mr.  Brown,  from  Washington,  Pa.,  was  put  into  his 
hands,  of  which  he  announced  his  acceptance,  and  he  was  dismissed 


HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OP   HUNTINGDON.  53 

with  the  usual  testimonials,  to  connect  himself  with  the  Presbytery 
of  Ohio,  within  the  bounds  of  which  the  congregation  was  situated. 

With  the  departure  of  one  good  man,  and  just  upon  his  retreating 
steps  comes  another,  as  if  for  compensation  of  the  loss  sustained, 
Mr,  Thomas  Hood,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  pro- 
duced certificates  of  his  dismission  from  said  Presbytery,  and  of  his 
acceptance  of  calls  from  the  united  congregations  of  Buffalo  and 
Washington,  (Northumberland  county,)  within  the  bounds  of  this 
Presbytery,  and  requested  to  be  taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery. 
The  usual  pieces  of  trial  were  assigned  to  Mr.  Hood,  and  examina- 
tions had  which  are  required  by  the  Book;  all  being  satisfactory  to 
Presbytery,  on  the  2d  day  of  October,  1805,  he  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled pastor  of  Buffalo  and  Washington  congregations,  in  which 
service  Mr.  Stuart  preached  the  ordination  sermon,  (in  the  absence 
of  Mr.  Wilson,  who  had  been  appointed  to  that  duty,)  from  1  Cor. 
9:16,  and  Mr.  John  Brtson  delivered  the  charge  according  to  previ- 
ous appointment. 

A  protest  by  the  administrators  of  the  estate  of  the  Rev.  Hugh 
Morrison  against  the  installation  of  Mr.  Hood,  or  any  other  person  in 
the  congregation  of  Buffalo,  till  all  arrearages  of  salary  were  paid, 
due  to  the  estate  of  Mr.  Morrison,  the  former  pastor,  was  laid  before 
Presbytery  before  the  service  of  installation  had  taken  place,  but  the 
Presbytery  esteemed  this  no  bar  in  the  case,  as  Mr.  Morrison,  in  his 
life  time  bad  instituted  suit  for  these  arrearages  in  a  civil  court,  the 
administrators  had  prosecuted  it  to  an  issue  after  his  death,  and  had 
acquiesced  in  the  judgment  which  was  obtained  against  the  congre- 
gation. 

At  this  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  several  calls  were  presented  for 
Mr.  Hutcheson.  Lewistown  asked  for  the  appointment  of  some 
member  to  moderate  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  with  a  view  to 
ascertain  the  sense  of  the  congregation  with  reference  to  making  out 
a  call  for  Mr.  H.  Calls  also  from  the  congregations  of  Derry  and 
Paxton,  of  the  Carlisle  Presbytery,  and  a  call  from  the  united  congre- 
gations of  Mifnintown  and  Lost  Creek,  were  laid  before  Presbytery. 
Tbese  calls  were  put  into  Mr.  Hutcheson's  hands,  and  he  declared 
his  acceptance  of  the  call  from  Mifflintown  and  Lost  Creek.  The 
only  thing  specially  to  be  noticed  in  this  call  is  the  precision  witb 
which  the  amount  of  salary  promised  is  stated.  Four  hundred  and 
eighty-six  dollars  and  sixty-six  cents. 


54  HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON. 

Iii  1804  curtain  amendments  in  the  form  of  the  Government  Directo- 
ry for  worship,  and  Book  of  Discipline,  were  proposed  by  the  General 
Assembly,  and  sent  down  to  the  Presbyteries  for  their  concurrence,  or 
rejection.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  the  Spring  of  1805, 
these  amendments  were  considered  and  unanimously  adopted,  and  the 
action  of  the  Presbytery  ordered  to  be  sent  to  Rev.  Philip  Mille- 
dollar,  Stated  Clerk  to  the  General  Assembly. 

Presbytery  met  in  the  church  of  Lost  Creek,  April  15,  180G.  At 
this  meeting  Mr.  Hutchesox  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of 
Mimintown  and  Lost  Creek.  Before  these  services  took  place  the 
commissioner  of  the  congregations,  together  with  Mr.  Hutchesox. 
stated  to  Presbytery  that  a  mistake  had  been  made  in  the  amount  of 
salary  stated  in  the  call  from  said  congregations;  that  instead  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty-two  pounds  ten  shillings,  it  should  have  been  only  one 
hundred  and  seventy-jive  pounds.  Mr.  Hutchesox  stated  to  Presbytery 
that  the  commissioner  informed  him  of  his  mistake  before  he  accepted 
the  call.     The  Presbytery  permitted  the  mistake  to  be  rectified. 

At  this  time  the  Rev.  Isaac  Grier  was  transferred  from  the  pastoral 
charge  of  Pine  Creek  congregation  to  the  united  congregations  of 
Sunbury,  Northumberland  and  Shamokin. 

It  will  be  recollected  th*t  the  Rev.  Matthew  Stephkxs  was  tried  at 
the  meeting  of  Presbytery  in  April,  1804,  on  charges  presented 
against  him  by  Miss  Polly  Campbell,  and  he  suspended  from  the  min- 
istry, but  restored  again  at  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  following. 
It  seems  that  upon  a  review  of  the  minutes  by  the  Synod  exception 
was  taken,  not  to  the  final  action  of  the  Presbytery,  but  to  the 
apparent  inconsistency  between  the  record  and  the  final  act  of  sus- 
pension. The  act  of  suspension  is  recorded  as  follows :  "  Presbytery 
were  of  opinion  that  his  conduct  did  not  evince  any  criminal  inten- 
tion with  respect  to  Miss  Polly  Campbell,  yet  the  charges  are  fully  sub- 
stantiated!'''' Now  criminal  intention  was  the  very  gist  of  her  main 
charge.  There  seems  to  have  been  an  omission  by  the  clerk  in 
recording  the  action  of  the  Presbytery  in  this  case;  therefore  the 
delegates  to  the  Assembly  of  1806  are  instructed  to  inform  the  Synod 
that  the  incorrectness  of  which  the  Synod  complained  in  the  case  of 
Mr.  Stephexs  "was  in  the  minutes,  not  in  the  proceedings  of  Presby- 
tery." It  must  have  been  an  oversight  in  making  the  record,  for 
surely  tin-  members  of  the  Presbytery  could  not  have  so  stultified 
themselves,  as  to  have  exonerated   him  of  all  criminal  intention,  and 


HISTORY    OP    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  00 

at  the  same,  time  voted  that  all  the  charges  were  substantiated.  The 
idea  intended  to  he  conveyed,  no  doubt,  was  that  while  the  conduct 
or  notions  of  Mr.  Stephens  on  the  occasion  were  proven,  his  intention 
was  misinterpreted. 

But  on  the  17th  of  April,  1806,  new  charges  were  laid  before  Pres- 
bytery, by  a  Mr.  David  Riddle,  of  habitual  intoxication,"  and  abusive 
language  to  all  who  offended  him.  But  the  charges  not  being  so 
specific  as  the  Presbytery  .judged  to  be  necessary,  Mr.  Riddle  was  per- 
mitted to  withdraw  his  paper  that  it  might  be  presented  in  due  form 
at  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery 
in  October,  the  above  charges  were  renewed  by  Mr.  Riddle,  with  the 
additional  charge  of  "total  neglect  of  family  visitation."  This  paper 
was  entertained  by  the  Presbytery,  and  ordered  that  a  copy  of  the 
charges  and  witnesses  be  furnished  to  Mr.  Stephens,  and  that  citations 
be  issued  by  the  clerk  to  the  witnesses  to  appear  at  the  next  Spring 
meeting  of  the  Presbytery. 

The  Assembly  of  1805  had  sent  down  to  the  Presbyteries  an  over- 
ture on  the  subject  of  educating  pious  youth  for  the  gospel  ministry. 
The  Assembly  finding  that  there  was  a  general  coincidence  of  senti- 
ment on  this  subject,  appointed  a  committee  to  take  this  subject  into 
consideration,  to,  draught  and  lay  before  the  house  a  minute  proper 
to  lie  adopted  and  published  by  the  Assembly,  and  calculated  to  carry 
the  design  into  complete  effect.  This  committee  reported,  stating  the 
pressing  necessity  of  an  increase  of  candidates  for  the  gospel  minis- 
try, earnestly  recommending  to  every  Presbytery  under  the  care  of 
the  Assembly,  to  use  their  utmost  endeavors  to  increase,  by  all  suita- 
ble means  in  their  power,  the  number  of  promising  candidates  for  the 
holy  ministry — to  press  it  upon  the  parents  of  pious  youth  to  educate 
rhem  for  the  church,  and  on  the  youth  themselves,  to  devote  their 
talents  and  their  lives  to  this  sacred  calling — to  make  vigorous  exer- 
tions to  raise  funds  to  assist  all  the  youth  who  may  need  assistance, 
to  be  careful  that  the  youth  whom  they  may  take  on  their  funds  give 
such  evidence  as  the  nature  of  the  ease  admits,  that  they  possess  both 
talents  and  piety,  to  inspect  the  education  of  those  youth  during  the 
course  both  of  their  academical  and  theological  studies  ;  choosing  for 
them  such  schools,  seminaries,  and  teachers,  as  each  Presbytery  may 
judge  most  proper  and  advantageous,  so  as  eventually  to  bring  them 
into  the  ministry  well  furnished  for  their  work,  &c. 

The  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  took  the  following  action  on  these 
recommendations  of  the  General  Assembly,  by  report  of  a  committee : 


56  HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESBYTERY   OF   HUNTINGDON. 

"  The  committee  appointed  to  consider  the  injunctions  of  the  General 
Assembly  respecting  the  selection  and  education  of  poor  and  pious  youth 
for  the  gospel  ministry,  are  of  opinion  that  the  present  circumstances  of 
the  church  are  such  as  render  this  measure  highly  necessary,  and  that  no 
means  should  be  left  untried  which  will  have  the  smallest  tendency  to  carry 
it  into  execution.  -After  duly  considering  the  subject,  they  doubt  not  of 
the  practicability  of  it,  and  for  this  purpose  beg  leave  to  present  the  follow- 
ing resolutions : 

1.  Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appointed,  to  be  called  the  Committee 
of  Education,  consisting  of  seven  members,  any  three  of  whom  shall  be  a 
quorum,  whose  business  it  shall  be  to  receive  information  concerning,  and 
recommendations  in  fav»r  of  such  young  men  as  come  under  the  description 
contained  in  the  Assembly's  injunction,  to  determine  whether  the  persons 
recommended  be  received  or  not,  to  superintend  the  education  of  those  who 
may  be  received,  and  to  apply  the  funds  that  may  be  raised  for  that  purpose. 

2.  Resolved,  That  a  Treasurer  be  appointed  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  re- 
ceive the  moneys  which  may  be  raised,  to  hold  them  subject  to  the  order  of 
the  above  committee,  to  keep  a  regular  account  of  the  receipts  and  expen- 
ditures, to  report  annually  the  state  of  the  funds,  as  well  as  the  sums  re- 
ceived during  the  last  year,  and  from  whom  received. 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  pastor  and  session  of  every  congregation,  or  the 
session,  where  the  congregation  is  vacant,  within  our  bounds,  be  requested 
to  make  diligent  search  for  young  men  of  capacity  and  piety,  whose 
parents,  who  although  desirous,  are  not  in  such  circumstances  as  to  give 
them  a  liberal  education,  and  to  communicate  the  result  of  their  search  to 
the  committee,  accompanied  with  a  recommendation  of  the  person,  if  they 
find  any  such,  who  in  their  opinion  ought  to  be  taken  under  the  care  of  the 
committee. 

4.  Resolved,  That  the  congregations  under  our  care  be  most  earnestly 
solicited,  yearly  or  half  yearly,  to  take  up  liberal  collections,  or  to  raise 
money  in  any  way,  which  in  their  opinion  shall  be  most  desirable,  and  to 
transmit  it  to  the  treasurer,. or  to  the  chairman  of  the  committee,  in  the 
absence  of  the  treasurer. 

One  other  resolution  was  appended  providing  for  the  return  of 
money  to  the  society  from  which  it  was  received,  after  a  specified 
time,  in  case  no  persons  were  found  upon  whom  to  expend  it. 

And  as  it  appears  that  division  of  the  Presbytery  was  contemplated, 
it  was  resolved  that  should  there  be  then  any  money  in  the  treasury. 
in  that  event  it  should  be  divided  equally  between  the  two  Presbyte- 
ries, provided  each  Presbytery  had  an  equal  number  of  young  men  for 
education  under  their  care ;  if  not,  then  in  proportion  to  the  number 
each  may  have. 

The  following  persons  were  chosen  as  the  Committee  on  Education  : 
Kev.  Messrs.  James  Johnston,  Johx  Brysox,  William  Stuart,  Johx 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  5i 

B.  Patterson  and  John  Coulter:  with  Messrs.  James  Hepburn  and 
John  Watson,  elders. 

The  Rev.  John  Hutcheson  was  chosen  treasurer. 

At  the  Spring  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  April  21,  1807,  the  case  of 
Rev.  Matthew  Stephens  was  taken  up  by  consent  of  parties,  though 
several  important  witnesses  were  absent,  and  Presbytery  agreed  to 
hear  the  testimony  of  those  witnesses  that  were  present,  and  appoint 
a  committee  to  take  the  testimony  of  those  who  were  absent,  and 
reserve  their  decision  until  their  next  meeting.  The  following  mem- 
bers were  appointed  this  committee,  to  meet  at  Shaver's  Creek  Church 
on  the  1st  Tuesday  of  June  next,  viz:  Rev.  Messrs.  David  Bard,  John 
Johnston,  William  Stuart  and  Henry  R.  Wilson,  and  Messrs.  David 
Stuart  and  George  McCormick,  elders.  The  Rev.  Henry  R.  Wilson 
to  preach  a  sermon  on  the  occasion.  At  the  fall  meeting  of  the  Pres- 
bytery at  Warrior  Run,  the  following  action,  in  the  case  of  the  Rev. 
Matthew  Stephens,  was  taken  : 

"The  prosecutor  of  the  Rev.  M.  Stephens  appeared  in  Presbytery,  but 
on  account  of  the  absence  of  Mr.  S.  and  all  the  members  of  the  committee 
appointed  to  take  the  testimony  in  that  case.  Presbytery  deferred  their  de- 
cision till  the  next  Spring  meeting." 

At  this  time  the  question  of  the  division  of  the  Presbytery  was 
taken  into  consideration,  and  the  following  minute  adopted: 

"  The  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  taking  into  consideration  the  difficulties 
under  which  many  of  their  members  labor  on  account  of  their  local  situa- 
tion, rendering  a  general  attendance  on  the  meetings  of  Presbytery  for  the 
most  part  impracticable,  were  of  opinion  that  application  should  be  made  to 
tlie  next  General  Assembly  for  a  division  of  the  Presbytery  into  two  Pres- 
byteries ;  and  the  following  lines  of  division  are  proposed  to  the  General 
Assembly  :  Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the  Juniata,  and  along  said  river  to 
Lewistown,  thence  by  the  State  road  to  Bellefonte,  so  as  to  include  to  the 
eastward  the  charges  of  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Hutcheson,  John  Brtsow, 
Hood,  Patterson.  Grier  and  Wilson,  to  he  called  by  the  name  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Northumberland.'' 

At  this  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  John  Buvers,  Esq.,  was  appointed 
treasurer  of  the  Committee  of  Education,  in  the  place  of  Rev.  John 
Hutcheson,  because  his  place  of  residence  was  more  central.  The 
Spring  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  1808  was  held  in  the  church  of 
Bellefonte.  At  this  meeting  the  Committee  of  Education  made  report 
of  the  first  young  man  taken  under  their  care  with  a  view  to  the  min- 
istry, Thomas  Caldwell,  a  young  man  of  good  natural  abilities,  and 
who  had  since  the  time  he  was  taken  under  their  care  (September   10. 


58  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

1807)  made  considerable  progress  in  the  Latin  language.  This  gave 
occasion  to  inquire  of  the  different  members  of  the  Presbytery  what 
had  been  done  in  their  several  congregations  respecting  the  fund  for 
the  education  of  poor  and  pious  youth  for  the  gospel  ministry ;  when 
it  appeared  that  considerable  attention  had  been  paid  to  the  matter 
by  some  of  the  members,  and  considerable  sums  of  money  raised; 
those  who  had  neglected  this  cause  were  enjoined  to  give  it  more 
attention  in  the  future. 

At  this  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  it  was  moved  and  carried  that  the 
line  of  division  proposed  at  the  last  meeting  of  Presbytery  (October  6, 
1807)  be  reconsidered,  and  the  following  line  of  division  was  proposed 
and  adopted,  viz :  Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mahantango  Creek, 
and  proceeding  a  northwesterly  course  to  the  mouth  of  Clearfield 
Creek,  so  as  to  leave  to  the  eastward  the  congregation  of  Great  Island, 
including  to  the  eastward  the  charges  of  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Dunham, 
John  Bryson,  Crier,  Patterson  and  Hood  ;  to  be  called  the  Presby- 
tery of  Northumberland. 

There  is  a  record  made  at  this  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  a  com- 
plaint to  Presbytery  by  Mr.  Hutcheson  of  negligence  on  the  part  of 
his  congregation  in  paying  the  salary  due  him,  and  on  account  of 
which  he  was  suffering  embarrassment ;  and  also  by  Mr.  James  John- 
ston in  regard  to  arrearages  due  him  by  West  Kishacoquillas  for  his 
labors  among  them  while  he  was  their  pastor.  In  both  cases  Presby- 
tery interposed  their  authority  kindly  but  decidedly,  enjoining  upon 
the  congregations  a  speedy  settlement  of  their  dues  to  these  brethren. 
Had  Mr.  Hutcheson  been  a  pastor  in  these  more  modern  times,  the 
first  notice  they  would  have  had  of  any  neglect  of  payment  on  the 
part  of  the  congregation,  would  have  been  an  application  on  his  part 
tor  a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation.  Mr.  H.  continued  to  be  the 
pastor  of  this  congregation  for  more  than  thirty-five  years  after  this 
time.  He  did  not  Want  to  leave  the  congregation,  neither  did  the 
congregation  want  him  to  leave  them ;  but  their  neglect  in  regard  to 
the  salary,  no  doubt,  proceeded  from  thoughtlessness,  which  probably 
never  afterwards  occurred.  Which  is  the  better  course  to  pursue,  the 
ancient  or  the  modern  example,  depends  altogether  on  circumstances. 
No  congregation  ought  to  impose  such  a  necessity  on  their  pastor. 
And  it  is  time  these  annual  and  semi-annual  payments  should  cease. 
The  landlord  looks  for  his  rent  to  be  paid,  at  least,  quarterly.  The 
minister  ought  to  be  able  to  embrace  the  advantage  in  dealing  which 
arises  from  being  known  to  be  a  prompt  payer  of  his  debts. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  59 

At  this  meeting  the  Presbytery  came  to  a  decision  in  regard  to  the 
charges  brought  against  Mr.  Stephens.  The  testimony  taken  at  a 
former  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  was  read,  the  committee  appointed 
to  take  further  testimony  reported,  the  whole  testimony  being  now 
before  the  members  and  the  parties  fully  heard,  the  Presbytery 
unanimously  decided  that  none  of  the  charges  were  substantiated, 
and  Mr.  Riddle  was  admonished  to  be  more  careful  in  future  in  taking 
up  or  publishing  a  false  report  against  a  gospel  minister. 

The  Presbytery  met  in  Buffalo  Valley  in  the  Spring  of  1809.  As 
usual  there  were  many  applications  from  the  vacant  congregations 
and  destitute  places  for  supplies.  The  Presbytery,  moved  by  the  con- 
sideration of  the  destitute  condition  of  a  great  body  of  people  within 
their  bounds,  and  not  having  it  in  their  power  to  grant  much  assist- 
ance, having  no  licentiates  under  their  care,  instructed  their  commis- 
sioners to  the  next  General  Assembly  to  make  earnest  application  to 
the  General  Assembly's  Committee  of  Missions  to  send  missionaries  to 
their  assistance. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  ascertained  that  the  General  Assembly  had 
refused  the  application  for  a  division  of  the  Presbytery,  because  of  its 
not  being  the  proper  court  to  which  to  apply  in  the  first  instance,  and 
they  were  directed  to  make  their  request  for  a  division  to  the  Synod. 
It  was  therefore  now  resolved  to  make  application  to  the  Synod  for  a 
division,  with  substantially  the  same  line  as  before  suggested. 

A  record  of  action  taken  at  this  time  would  seem  to  indicate  that 
there  were  congregations,  even  in  those  times,  that  instead  of  becom- 
ing stronger  and  more  able  to  support  the  gospel,  were  becoming 
weaker.  Washington  congregation,  (Northumberland  county,)  to 
which  Mr.  Hood  preached  half  his  time,  made  request  to  Presbytery, 
(in  which  request  Mr.  H.  acquiesced,)  that  he  should  be  allowed  to 
give  them  only  the  fourth  part  of  his  time,  for  which  they  would  give 
him  just  half  the  salary  promised  in  their  call  at  the  time  of  his  ordi- 
nation and  installation.  Presbytery  permitted  them  to  make  any 
arrangement  which  suited  themselves,  provided  Mr.  H.  acquiesced, 
which  he  did  on  this  occasion.  In  this  case  it  is  altogether  probable 
that  the  strength  of  the  congregation  was  diminished  by  death,  or 
removal  from  its  bounds — most  likely  by  removal.  Circumstances 
over  which  they  have  no  control,  compel  families  sometimes  to  remove 
from  one  part  of  the  county  to  another;  but  it  may  be  questioned 
whether  in  a  majority  of  instances,  such  removals  have  not  only  tend- 
ed  to   the   injury  of  the   church,  but    to    the    injury  of   the   families 


60  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

themselves.  There  are  rich  valleys  in  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Huntingdon,  where  were  once  laid  the  foundations  of  large  and 
flourishing  churches,  that  are  now  extinct,  or  so  reduced  in  members 
as  to  be  scarcely  able  to  support  the  gospel  amongst  themselves  for 
only  a  portion  of  the  time.  Christians  of  other  denominations  have 
come  in  to  occupy  the  rich  and  fertile  fields  once  possessed  by  Presby- 
terian families,  and  have  large  and  flourishing  congregations.  Con- 
gregations have  become  utterly  extinct,  which  were  regularly  sup- 
plied for  years  after  the  formation  of  the  Presbytery,  by  members 
of  the  Presbytery,  either  as  pastors  or  stated  supplies,  or  by  persons 
appointed  from  time  to  time  at  the  stated  meetings  of  the  Presby- 
tery. The  writer  once  preached  in  a  place  where  had  been  once  an 
organized  congregation,  to  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Martin,  one  of  the 
original  members  of  the  Presbytery,  gave  a  portion  of  his  time,  when 
that  evening  sermon  was  the  first  Presbyterian  service  that  had  been 
held  in  the  place  for  twenty-five  years  previously ;  and  there  was 
then  but  one  family  in  the  place  inclined  to  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Where  were  all  the  other?  Dead  or  emigrated,  or  swallowed  up. 
And  when  we  think  of  East  Penns  Valley,  Brush  Valley,  and  Nit- 
tany  Valley,  we  scarcely  know  what  suitable  comment  to  make  on 
the  folly,  not  to  say  the  sin  of  Presbyterian  families  in  allowing  them- 
selves to  be  crowded  out  of  the  most  productive  valleys  in  the  centre 
of  the  State,  and  go  themselves  on  a  wild  hnnt  of  easier  cultivated 
lands  in  the  West.  And  often  times  there  was  not  only  the  breaking 
up,  at  least,  the  crippling  of  the  churches  at  home,  but  for  years 
they  deprived  themselves  and  their  families  of  the  stated  means  of 
grace  in  the  places  whither  they  had  removed,  just  long  enough  for 
their  growing  up  children  to  learn  to  care  for  none  of  these  things, 
and  lose  all  the  Presbyterian  inclinations  they  ever  had  instilled  into 
them.  And  not  one  out  of  ten  of  those  who  owned  lands  in  Cen- 
tral Pennsylvania,  improved  their  circumstances  by  emigrating  to 
the  West. 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  October  3,  1809,  the  Rev. 
H.  R.  Wilson  requested  that  the  pastoral  relation  between  him  and 
the  congregations  of  Bellefonte  and  Lick  Run,  might  be  dissolved. 
The  congregations  being  present,  by  their  commissioners,  expressed 
their  consent  to  the  request,  and  his  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved 
accordingly,  and  he  dismissed  with  the  usual  testimonials  to  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Carlisle.  At  the  same  time  the  Rev.  Matthew  Stephens 
asked  leave,  on  account  of  grievances  under  which  he  labored,  to  re- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  HUNTINGDON.  61 

sign  the  charge  of  the  congregation  of  Shaver's  Creek.  The  congrega- 
tion was  cited  to  appear  at  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery  and  give 
reasons,  if  any  they  had,  why  Mr.  Stephens'  request  should  not  be 
granted. 

In  1798  a  reference  was  sent  from  the  Synod  of  Virginia  through  the 
Committee  of  Bills  and  Overtures,  in  these  words,  "  How  far  and  in 
what  sense  are  persons  who  have  been  regularly  baptized  in  infancy 
and  have  not  partaken  of  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  subject 
to  the  discipline  of  the  church?"  In  1799  the  General  Assembly  an- 
swered this  question,  by  referring  to  the  standards  of  the  church  as 
containing  a  sufficient  answer  to  the  reference.  The  following  over- 
ture had  been  presented  to  the  Assembly  of  1811,  by  the  Synod  of 
Kentucky  :  "  What  step  should  the  church  take  with  baptized  youth, 
not  in  communion,  but  arrived  at  the  age  of  maturity,  should  such 
youth  prove  disorderly  and  contumacious?"  The  Assembly  appointed 
the  Rev.  Drs.  Miller  and  Romeyn,  and  the  Rev.  Jas.  Richards,  a  com- 
mitttee  to  prepare  and  report  to  the  next  Assembly  a  full  and  com- 
plete answer  to  the  above  overture.  This  committee  reported  to  the 
Assembly  as  required,  and  after  the  report  had  been  read,  it  was  re- 
committed to  the  same  committee  for  revision  and  publication,  and 
commended  to  the  attention  of  the  Presbyteries  and  ministers,  while 
the  Assembly  refused  to  express  any  opinion  on  the  principles  it  con- 
tained. The  object  of  sending  down  to  the  Presbyteries  and  minis- 
ters was,  that  in  due  time  a  decision  might  be  had  on  the  important 
subject  discussed  in  the  report.  At  the  Assembly  of  1814  a  commit- 
tee was  appointed  to  consider  and  report  what  should  be  done  with 
the  above  report.  The  Rev.  Drs.  Green,  Woodhull,  Wilson,  and 
Messrs.  Caldwell  and  Connelly,  were  appointed  this  committee,  who 
reported,  recommending  that  the  committee  be  discharged,  and  they 
were  accordingly  discharged  and  the  subject  was  indefinitely  postponed. 

These  historical  facts  are  recalled  for  the  purpose  of  explaining  the 
action  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  in  1809.  The  subject  had 
been  agitated  in  the  church  from  1798,  and  come  before  the  Assem- 
bly from  time  to  time  till  1814.  The  following  is  the  action  of  the 
Presbytery  at  the  time  above  sjjecified : 

"The  Presbytery  having  taken  into  serious  consideration  the  subject  of 
disciplining  baptized  persons  who  are  not  in  full  communion  in  the  church, 
do  hereby  recommend  to  the  several  congregations  under  their  care,  that 
they  pay  particular  attention  to  this  subject,  and  that  they  be  careful  to 
teach  them  the  principles  of  religion,  and  the  necessity  of  walking  .in  new- 


62  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON". 

ness  of  life  before  God,  in  compliance  with  a  resolution  of  the  General  As- 
sembly on  that  subject."  In  regard  to  this,  there  is  only  one  suggestion  to 
be  made,  that  when  the  term  '■'■disciplining"  is  used  in  a  technical  sense,  in 
most  cases  in  these  later  times,  instead  of  calling  the  children  to  account, 
justice  would  be  answered  by  calling  the  professing  parents  to  account  for 
the  neglect  of  the  religious  training  of  their  children.  According  to  the 
covenant  and  promise  of  God,  the  conscientious  discharge  of  the  duty  of 
parental  training  according  to  their  vows  made  at  their  baptism,  will  be 
ordinarily  followed  with  the  covenant  blessing.  The  unfaithfulness  is  not 
in  God.  It  is  his  way  of  perpetuating  his  church  in  the  earth.  "Train 
up  a  child  in  the  way  he  should  go,  and  when  he  is  old  he  will  not  depart 
from  it." 

The  congregations  of  Bellefonte  and  Lick  Run  were  not  long  with- 
out a  pastor.  At  the  same  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  which  Mr. 
Wilson  resigned  the  charge,  and  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Carlisle,  Mr.  James  Linn,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle, 
was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  and  calls  from  the  united 
churches  of  Bellefonte  and  Lick  Run  put  into  his  hands.  In  the 
seven  years  of  Mr.  Wilson's  ministry  in  these  churches  they  had  ad- 
vanced a  little  in  the  amount  of  salary  promised.  Mr.  Wilson  was 
called  on  a  salary  of  four  hundred  dollars.  The  calls  were  accepted, 
and  Rom.  5: 10  assigned  Mr.  Linn  as  the  subject  of  a  sermon  for  ordi- 
nation, and  it  was  resolved  to  hold  the  next  stated  meeting  at  Belle- 
fonte, with  a  view  to  his  ordination  and  installation,  if  the  way  be 
clear.  The  Rev.  John  B.  Patterson  was  appointed  to  preach  on  the 
occasion,  and  the  Rev.  Isaac  Grier  to  preside  and  give  the  charge. 

It  seems  that  it  was  customary  in  those  early  times  to  apply  to  the 
General  Assembly  for  missionary  labor,  or  liberty  to  employ  or  per- 
form missionary  service,  to  be  paid  out  of  the  funds  of  the  General 
Assembly  collected  for  this  purpose.  Therefore  the  following  record 
is  found  among  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery  at  this  time : 

"  The  General  Assembly  at  their  last  meeting,  empowered  the  Presbytery 
of  Huntingdon  to  employ  a  missionary  for  two  months  within  their  bound.-. 
Mr.  James  Johnston  and  Mr.  Coulter  were  appointed  each  to  spend  two 
weeks  in  missionary  labors  in  the  western  end  of  the  Presbytery,  the  time 
at  discretion,  and  Mr.  Dunham  and  Mr.  Patterson  to  spend  two  week< 
each  in  the  eastern  end  of  the  Presbytery,  the  time  also  at  discretion,  but 
to  be  performed  before  the  next  meeting  of  the  Presbytery." 

At  the  following  meeting  of  Presbytery,  Messrs.  Johnston  and 
Coulter  reported  that  they  had  not  performed  the  two  weeks  of 
missionary  service  to  which  they  were  appointed.     And  it  is  believed 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  63 

that  Messrs.  Dunham  and  Patterson  had  not  been  able  to  fulfil  their 
appointments  in  the  eastern  end.  -^ 

Presbytery  met  at  Bellefonte  on  17th  of  April,  1810,  with  a  view  to 
the  ordination  and  installation  of  Mr.  Linn,  who  had  accepted  calls  to 
the  congregations  of  Bellefonte  and  Lick  Run.  The  Presbytery  was 
opened  with  a  sermon  by  Mr.  Linn,  from  the  text  assigned  him  for 
trial  at  a  former  meeting.  The  discourse  was  unanimously  sustained 
as  part  of  trial  for  ordination.  He  was  examined  on  the  Languages, 
Theology,  Natural  and  Moral  Philosophy,  all  of  which  examinations 
were  sustained;  and  Presbytery  proceeded  to  his  ordination  and 
installation,  in  which  service  (Mr.  Patterson  who  had  been  appointed 
being  absent)  Mr.  Coulter  preached  the  ordination  sermon,  from  1 
Cor.  1 :  21 ,  and  Mr.  Crier,  according  to  previous  appointment,  gave 
the  charge. 

At  this  stated  meeting  also,  Mr.  William  Kennedy,  a  licentiate  of 
the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  presented  his  testimonials  and  dismis- 
sion, and  was  taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery.  Calls  were  pre- 
sented for  Mr.  Kennedy  from  Lewistown  and  West  Kishacoquillas  ; 
two-thirds  of  his  time  to  be  given  to  the  congregation  of  Lewistown, 
and  one-third  to  West  Kishacoquillas ;  for  which  he  was  to  receive  a 
salary  of  four  hundred  and  eighty  dollars  between  them,  in  proportion 
to  the  services  rendered  to  each.  These  calls,  upon  being  put  into 
Mr.  Kennedy's  hands,  were  accepted ;  and,  in  view  of  his  ordination 
and  installation,  the  next  stated  meeting  was  appointed  to  be  held  at 
Lewistown. 

At  this  time  petitions  were  presented  to  Presbytery,  signed  by  a 
number  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Milton,  on  the  Susque- 
hanna, and  of  White  Peer  township,  requesting  permission  to  apply 
for  one-fourth  of  Mr.  Hood's  labors  in  the  town  of  Milton.  To  this 
request  the  Presbytery  gave  their  consent,  providing  it  met  with  the 
approbation  of  the  Rev.  John  Bryson,  within  the  bounds  of  whose 
charge  some  of  the  petitioners  resided.  This  was  the  origin  of  the 
congregation  of  Milton,  now  among  the  largest  and  most  influential 
of  the  congregations  in  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland.  It  would 
appear  that  some  opposition  was  made  by  Mr.  Bryson  and  his  sessions, 
for  at  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  when  a  call  was  made 
by  the  residents  of  Milton  and  vicinity,  for  Mr.  Hood,  and  presented 
to  Presbytery,  on  account  of  some  informality  in  the  call,  and  becau^i' 
of  the  town  of  Milton  being  within  the  bounds  of  Mr.  Bryson's  con- 
gregation, it  was  not  put  into  Mr.  Hood's  hands  at  the  time;  but  Mr. 


64  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

Bryson  and  the  congregations  of  Chillisquaque  and  Warrior  Run  were 
required  to  appear  at  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery,  and  show  cause: 
if  they  had  any,  why  Milton  may  not  be  erected  into  a  separate  con- 
gregation. Before  the  next  meeting  the  division  of  Presbytery  had 
taken  effect,  and  the  matter  was  left  in  the  charge  of  the  brethren 
who  composed  the  Northumberland  Presbytery.  It  is  probable  that 
the  church  at  Milton  was  organized  soon  afterwards,  and  Mr.  Hood 
installed  its  pastor. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  Mr.  Stephens  applied  to  the  Presbytery 
in  October,  1809,  for  leave  to  resign  his  pastoral  charge,  and  the  con- 
gregation were  cited  to  appear  and  show  cause,  if  any  they  had,  why 
Mr.  Stephens'  request  should  not  be  granted.  The  congregation  not 
appearing  by  their  commissioners  at  the  meeting-  held  in  April,  1810. 
and  Mr.  Stephens  still  expressing  his  desire  that  the  pastoral  relation 
should  be  dissolved,  it  was  granted,  and  the  congregation  declared 
vacant. 

In  the  Spring  of  1808,  the  committee  appointed  to  superintend  the 
education  of  poor  and  pious  youth,  with  a  view  to  the  ministry, 
reported  that  they  had  taken  under  their  care  Thomas  Caldwell,  and 
spoke  favorably  of  his  progress  under  the  tuition  of  the  Rev.  Isaac 
Crier,  who  was  then  employed  in  teaching  a  classical  school,  in  con- 
nection with  pastoral  labors.  Salaries  were  then  so  inadequate  that 
pastors  had  often  to  connect  other  employments  with  the  preaching 
of  the  gospel,  as  a  means  of  support.  Some  had  farms  on  which 
they  labored ;  but  the  most  common  refuge  was  teaching,  as  most  con- 
genial to  their  Sabbath  employments.  In  the  fall  of  1809  the  com- 
mittee report  considerable  arrearages  due  to  Mr.  Grier  for  the  board- 
ing and  education  of  Thomas  Caldwell,  and  Presbytery  enjoined  it 
upon  the  members  to  read  this  report  to  their  several  congregations, 
and  "if  possible  to  excite  them  to  assist,  and  enable  the  Presbytery 
to  carry  their  laudable  designs  into  effect.''  We  know  not  how  faith- 
ful the  brethren  were  to  their  own  resolution ;  but  it  ended  like  many 
resolutions,  in  being  passed  and  recorded  in  the  minutes.  For,  at  a 
subsequent  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  when  the  members  were 
called  upon  to  give  an  account  of  their  collections  for  this  object,  it 
appeared  that  the  sum  raised  was  not  sufficient  to  defray  the  arrear- 
ages due  to  Mr.  Crier.  In  view  of  this  state  of  the  funds,  Presbytery 
resolved  that  it  was  not  advisable  to  continue  the  young  man  any 
longer  on  a  fund  which  was  inadequate  to  his  expenses.  When  it  is 
remembered  that  Presbytery  had  but  one  young  man  on  their  educa- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  65 

tion  fund,  and  that  the  Presbytery  covered  the  whole  territory  now 
embraced  in  the  two  Presbyteries  of  Huntingdon  and  Northumber- 
land, it  ought  not  to  have  been  a  burden  on  the  churches  to  support 
one  young  man  during  the  course  of  his  education.  Some  other 
reason  must  be  found  for  abandoning  the  scheme;  and  it  probably 
was  the  prejudice  of  the  people  against  the  plan,  and  against  any  one 
who  would  consent  to  obtain  an  education  in  this  beneficiary  way. 
The  prejudice  is  not  even  yet  altogether  extinct.  It  prevails  very 
strongly  in  a  Scotch- Irish  congregation,  and  the  nearer  a  people  come 
to  the  original  stock,  the  stronger  the  prejudice.  There  is  no  nation- 
ality to  which  the  adage  applies  more  thoroughly — "poor  and  proud1,1 — 
than  the  Scotch- Irish. 

But  another  action  of  the  Presbytery  immediately  following  this  is 
much  more  unaccountable.  The  General  Assembly  at  this  time  (1810) 
was  seriously  agitating  the  matter  of  establishing  a  Theological  Sem- 
inary. The  Presbytery  took  the  subject  under  serious  consideration. 
and  made  the  following  deliverance  unanimously :  "That  such  school  or 
schools  would  not  be  calculated  to  promote  the  interests  of  religion, 
and  were  therefore  decidedly  opposed  to  any  such  establishment.'' 
The  reasons  by  which  they  came  to  this  conclusion  can  only  be  a  mat- 
ter of  conjecture  now ;  most  of  the  ministers  then  composing  the  • 
Presbytery  had  studied  theology  privately,  under  the  direction  of  the 
pastors  of  the  churches  to  which  they  severally  belonged;  but  there 
were  others  who  had  gone  from  Ireland  to  Scotland  to  obtain  their 
theological  education  in  the  Scottish  seminaries.  How  they  could 
consistently  come  to  such  a  conclusion,  is  not  to  be  comprehended. 
But  experience  has  vindicated  our  theological  seminaries.  Of  all 
churches  in  the  land,  the  Presbyterian  Church  is  under  most  necessity 
of  good  theological  seminaries,  to  vindicate  her  consistency  in 
demanding  an  able  and  learned  ministry. 

At  the  Fall  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  the  Eev.  James  Linn  pre- 
sented a  copy  of  the  minute  of  Synod  respecting  the  division  of  the 
Presbytery,  and  expressed  his  desire  that  the  line  of  division  proposed 
to  Synod  be  altered,  and  that  the  congregations  of  Bellefonte  and 
Lick  Run  be  annexed  to  the  western  division.  It  was  agreed  that  the 
line  be  altered,  and  that  Synod  divide  the  Presbytery  by  the  following 
line,  viz :  Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mahantango  Creek,  and  pro- 
ceeding in  a  northwesterly  course  so  as  to  strike  the  West  Branch  of 
the  Susquehanna  river  at  the  line  which  divides  Lycoming  and  Centre 
counties,  so  as  to  leave  to  the  eastward  the  following  members :  the 


66  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

Rev.  Messrs.  Asa  Dunham,  John  Bryson,  Isaac  Grier,  John  B.  Pat- 
terson, and  Thomas  Hood,  with  their  respective  charges ;  together 
with  the  vacant  congregations  of  Great  Island,  Lycoming  and  Pine 
Creek,  to  be  called  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland." 

The  Rev.  William  Kennedy  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of 
the  congregations  of  Lewistown  and  West  Kishacoquillas  on  the  3d 
day  of  October,  1810,  the  Rev.  John  B.  Patterson  preaching  the 
sermon,  and  Rev.  William  Stuart  presiding  and  delivering  the 
charge,  according  to  previous  appointments. 

The  last  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  before  the  actual  division  was 
held  in  Buffalo  church.  At  the  previous  meeting  the  congregations 
of  Upper  Tuscarora  and  Aughwick  requested  the  consent  of  Presby- 
tery to  be  annexed  to  the  Presby  tery  of  Carlisle ;  the  consideration  of 
their  request  was  deferred  till  this  meeting,  when  the  consent  of  Pres- 
bytery was  refused.  It  was  ordered  that  a  copy  of  the  minute  re- 
specting the  division  of  the  Presbytery,  and  of  that  concerning  the 
congregations  of  Upper  Tuscarora  and  Aughwick  be  forwarded  to 
Synod  at  its  next  meeting. 


CHAPTER   IV. 


FROM  THE  DIVISION  OF  THE  PRESBYTERY  IN  1811  ^ILL  THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE 

YEAR  1825. 

The  Rule  in  regard  to  the  Ordination  of  Candidates  sine  titulo — Difficulties  in  the  Harts  Log; 
Congregation — Death  of  Rev.  David  Bard — Sabbath  Mails — Petition  from  Alexandria  Con- 
gregation, and  Remonstrance  of  Harts  Log — Rev.  James  Galbraith  and  Mr.  William  A.Boyd 
Received — Mr.  James  Thompson  Called  to  Shaver's  Creek — Rev.  Nathaniel  R.  Snowden  Call- 
ed to  Millerstown  and  Liverpool — Mr.  Joseph  Adams  a  Candidate  for  the  Ministry — Mr. 
John  P.  Thompson,  a  Licentiate  of  the  Baptist  Association  of  Philadelphia,  opens  the  Pres- 
bytery with  a  Sermon — Mr.  James  S.  Woods,  a  Licentiate,  Received — Death  of  Rev.  James 
Johnston — Rev.  S.  Hill  Received — Rev.  William  A.  Boyd's  Resignation  and  Death — Mr.  John 
Mcllheney — Charge  against  Rev.  William  Kennedy — Death  of  Rev.  John  Johnston — Minute 
adopted  in  reference  to  Lotteries,  Balls,  &c. — Second  Trial  of  Rev.  Matthew  Stephens  on 
Charges  by  Common  Fame— Death  of  Mr.  Stephens — Mr.  John  Peebles,  a  Licentiate  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  Received — Rev.  S.  Hill  Dismissed  to  the  Associate  Reformed  Presby- 
tery of  Monongahela. 

THE  first  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  after  the  di- 
vision, was  held  in  the  church  of  Spruce  Creek,  and  was  opened 
with  a  sermon  by  the  Rev.  David  Bard,  from  2  Cor.  4:4,  "  The  glorious 
gospel."  After  being  constituted  with  prayer  an  abstract  from  the 
minutes  of  Synod  was  read,  by  which  it  appeared  that  Synod  had 
divided  the  Presbytery  according  to  their  request. 

The  Presbytery   now  consisted  of  the  following  ministerial  mem- 
bers : 

Rev.  David  Bard,  without  a  particular  charge. 
Rev.  Matthew  Stephens,  without  charge. 
Rev.  James  Johnston,  Harts  Log  and  Huntingdon. 
Rev.  William  Stuart,  Spring  Creek  and  Sinking  Creek. 
Rev.  John  Coulter,  Lower  and  Middle  Tuscarora. 
Rev.  John  Hutchesox,  Mifflintown  and  Lost  Creek. 
Rev.  James  Linn,  Bellefonte  and  Lick  Run. 
Rev.  William  Kennedy,  Lewistown  and  West  Kishacoquillas. 
The  Rev.  William  Stuart  was  chosen  moderator. 
It  will  be  observed  that  the  Presbytery  consisted  of  three  ministers 
less   than   at    its   original   constitution.     But   the   territory   had   been 
much   curtailed,  still   the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  were  large,  and 


68  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OP    HUNTINGDON. 

there  were  many  congregations  without  pastors,  and  many  preaching 
points  to  be  supplied.  Every  pastor  had  much  to  do  in  a  kind  of 
missionary  work  within  and  without  their  pastoral  charges. 

At  this  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  the  members  were  called  upon 
to  state  what  had  been  done  towards  the  collection  of  money  for  the 
theological  seminary,  as  ordered  by  the  General  Assembly,  when  it 
was  ascertained  that  no  moneys  had  been  collected  for  that  object 
within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery,  as  might  have  been  expected 
from  the  previous  action  of  the  members  disapproving  of  theological 
seminaries.  The  General  Assembly  of  1811  sent  down  to  the  Presby- 
teries a  rule  with  regard  to  ordinations  sine  titulo,  for  their  opinion  or 
approbation.  The  rule  was  as  follows:  "That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
Presbyteries,  when  they  think  it  necessary  to  ordain  a  candidate  with- 
out a  particular  call  to  a  congregation  or  congregations,  to  take  the 
advice  of  their  respective  Synods,  or  of  the  General  Assembly,  before 
they  proceed  to  this  ordination."  The  Presbytery  is  recorded  in  the 
minutes  as  giving  their  unanimous  consent  to  this  rule  in  the  Spring 
meeting  of  1812.  But  it  seems  that  this  consent  was  not  reported  to 
the  General  Assembly.  In  1813  the  same  rule  was  sent  down  a 
second  time  to  the  Presbyteries  to  be  voted  upon,  and  in  1814  the 
Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  is  rej^orted  to  the  Assembly  as  voting  in 
the  negative.  It  is  to  be  presumed  that  in  the  meantime  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbytery  had  given  the  subject  more  mature  considera- 
tion. Indeed  the  reason  of  their  change  of  views  in  this  matter  is  so 
recorded  by  themselves : 

"  Although  the  Presbytery  two  years  ago  gave  a  vote  in  the  affirmative, 
yet  having  paid  a  more  particular  attention  to  the  subject  they  give  their 
unanimous  negative  on  the  above  rule." 

In  the  Fall  of  1814  the  Presbytery  met  in  the  church  of  Bellefonte. 
An  abstract  from  the  minutes  of  Synod,  respecting  the  distribution  of 
religious  tracts  was  read,  and  committed  to  Messrs.  Hutcheson  and 
Linn  to  report  thereon. 

The  next  day  the  committee  made  the  following  report,  which  was 
adopted :  "  Your  committee  are  of  the  opinion  that  this  is  a  subject 
worthy  of  serious  attention.  But  at  the  same  time  they  are  aware, 
that  from  various  circumstances,  little  can  be  done  at  present ;  they 
however  recommend  a  compliance  with  the  Synod's  request,  and  for 
the  purpose  of  making  a  small  annual  fund:  Resolved,  that  each  min- 
ister in  this  Presbytery  contribute  annually  one  dollar,  and  procure 
what  he  can  from  any  individuals  who  may  be  friendly  to  the  cause." 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  69 

A  paper  was  at  this  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  handed  in,  signed  by 
a  number  of  persons  belonging  to  the  Hart's  Log  congregation,  in 
which  they  stated  that  they  had  deemed  it  their  duty  to  withdraw 
from  the  ministrations  of  the  Rev.  John  Johnston,  and  in  which  they 
ask  to  be  separated  from  the  congregation.  The  Presbytery  consider- 
ed the  paper  informal,  as  containing  no  specific  charges  against  Mr. 
Johnston,  and  presenting  requests  which  they  had  no  power  to  grant. 
For  these  reasons  the  paper  was  returned  to  those  who  presented  it. 
The  difficulties  which  existed  between  these  parties  and  Mr.  John- 
ston was  of  a  political  character,  as  the  facts  have  come  down  to  us 
by  tradition.  It  was,  as  will  be  jDerceived,  about  the  close  of  the  war 
of  1812.  A  sermon  preached  by  Mr.  J.  on  a  Thanksgiving  or  Fast 
day,  (we  do  not  know  which,)  gave  offense  to  a  part  of  his  congrega- 
tion. Mr.  J.  was  supposed  to  be  opposed  to  the  war,  and  consequently 
the  opposite  party  was  very  ready  to  take  offense.  In  a  time  of  great 
political  excitement  men  are  not  in  a  condition  to  form  a  calm  judg- 
ment, or  to  conclude  impartially.  Moreover  it  has  been  proven  by 
actual  experience,  that  in  such  times  ministers  are  very  liable  to  be 
misunderstood,  and  their  motives  misjudged.  There  is  no  intention 
of  apologizing  for  what  may  be  properly  called  political  preaching,  as 
between  the  policy  of  political  parties,  but  there  has  been  a  great 
deal  of  senseless  clamor  about  political  preaching,  which  has  had  no 
foundation  but  in  the  imaginations  of  heated  partisans.  Morals  are 
just  as  applicable  to  political  action  as  to  any  other  matters  that  can 
engage  the  attention  of  men.  Ministers  are  under  obligation  to  make 
application  of  the  moral  law  to  all  the  relations  of  life.  But  in  the 
instance  under  consideration,  had  all  the  facts  been  known  at  the 
time,  as  connected  with  that  sermon,  it  might  not  have  been  thought 
important  to  make  such  an  uproar  about  it.  A  London  minister,  on 
one  occasion,  happened  on  a  sermon  which  had  been  jn'epared  during 
the  prevalence  of  the  Great  Plague.  Of  course  there  were  in  it  many 
allusions  to  the  plague  then  prevailing.  At  length  one  of  his  hearers 
could  stand  it  no  longer,  and  in  great  excitement  arose  in  his  seat  and 
exclaimed,  "  sir,  where  is  it?"  The  preacher  very  cooly  replied,  ''I 
don't  know,  but  it  is  in  my  sermon!"  Mr.  Johnston,  however,  was  a 
man  of  mind  and  of  erudition,  and  a  very  substantial  preacher, 
which  all  would  be  willing  to  confess,  could  they  have  the  privilege 
of  pursuing  some  of  the  sermons  in  manuscript,  which  the  writer  has 
for  the  present  time  in  his  possession. 


70  HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESBYTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON. 

The  ecclesiastical  year  of  1815,  commences  with  the  record  of  the 
death  of  the  Rev.  David  Bard,  one  of  the  original  members  of  the 
Presbytery.  He  died  on  the  12th  day  of  the  preceeding  March. 
Five  of  the  old  original  members  are  now  dead,  the  Rev.  James  Mar- 
tin in  1795,  the  Rev.  Hugh  Morrison  in  1804,  the  Rev.  Hugh  Magill 
in  1805,  the  Rev.  John  Hoge  in  1807,  and  Mr.  Bard  in  1815.  The  Rev. 
Alexander  McIlwaine  died  the  same  year  with  Mr.  Hoge,  a  month 
later,  but  he  was  not  one  of  the  original  members. 

There  was  a  renewed  application  at  this  time  on  the  part  of  those 
of  Hart's  Log  congregation  who  were  dissatisfied  with  Mr.  John  John- 
ston, to  obtain  a  separation  from  his  charge,  charging  him  with 
neglecting  his  ministerial  duties  in  several  instances.  The  next  day, 
when  the  case  was  taken  up,  the  commissioners  on  the  part  of  the 
dissatisfied  portion  of  the  congregation,  stated  that  all  they  desired 
was,  that  they  should  be  no  longer  considered  members  of  the  Hart's 
Log  congregation,  and  they  were  willing  to  pay  up  all  their  arrearages 
till  the  time  of  their  withdrawing.  The  commissioners  on  the  part 
of  the  congregation  acceded  to  this,  and  the  Presbytery  agreed  to 
the  adjustment  which  the  commissioners  from  both  parties  had  made. 
They  also  considered  the  answer  given  by  Mr.  J.  to  the  charges  alleged 
against  him,  as  in  a  great  measure  excusing  him  for  the  neglect  of 
those  ministerial  duties  specified,  and  it  was  agreed  by  the  parties 
that  no  further  notice  should  be  taken  of  them. 

Those  who  withdrew  from  Hart's  Log  congregation  were  afterwards, 
at  their  own  request,  recognized  as  a  congregation  under  the  care  of 
the  Presbytery,  and  supplies  were  granted  them.  There  is  no  record 
of  a  formal  organization,  other  than  the  above.  It  is  altogether  prob- 
able that  a  portion  of  the  old  session  of  Hart's  Log  went  out  with  the 
seceding  members,  and  the  mere  recognizing  them  as  a  congregation, 
duly  officered,  was  all  that  was  deemed  necessary  in  this  case.  But 
the  Synod  did  not  concur  in  this  opinion,  and  therefore  this  was  made 
an  exception  in  the  approval  of  the  minutes. 

The  only  further  item  of  business  occurring  in  this  year,  which  is 
out  of  the  usual  routine,  was  the  action  of  the  Presbytery  in  reference 
to  the  transportation  and  opening  of  the  mails  on  the  Sabbath.  The 
General  Assembly  had  taken  action  on  the  subject,  and  enjoined  it  on 
the  Presbyteries  to  take  measures  for  circulating  petitions  to  Congress 
against  this  violation  of  the  Lord's  Day.  The  Presbytery  ordered, 
that   the  members'  use  their  influence  to    procure  signatures  to   the 


HISTORY'    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  71 

aforesaid  petitions,  and  send  them  to  Congress  before  the  first  of  the 
next  January.  Upon  this  historical  fact,  the  following  statement  may 
be  made :  that  in  a  true  record  of  passing  events,  it  will  be  found  that 
Presbyterians  have  either  been  among  the  first  originators  of  all  moral 
reform,  or  the  most  steady  and  reliable  friends  of  such  reformations. 
Presbyterians  may  be  slow  to  adopt  new  measures,  but  when  once  a 
cause  commends  itself  to  their  approbation,  there  are  none  more  fear- 
less and  unwavering  in  its  support.  In  the  case  above  referred  to,  it 
is  believed  those  of  the  Presbyterian  order  were  first  movers;  and 
though  unsuccessful  for  a  long  time,  yet  public  sentimenj;  came  at  last 
to  the  same  conclusion.  It  is  not  supposed  that  all  have  come  to  the 
same  conclusion  out  of  respect  to  the  authority  of  God ;  but  if  not, 
out  of  respect  to  their  own  interests.  The  Calvinistic  system,  so 
much  misunderstood  and  misrepresented,  is  the  only  solid  foundation 
of  a  practical  morality.  The  Arminian  systems,  accordingly  as  they 
are  more  or  less  logically  embraced,  always  lead  to  a  loose  and  pliant 
morality.  In  the  Roman  Catholic  church,  where  Arminianism  appears 
in  its  full  proportions,  the  morality  of  the  Sabbath,  and  all  other  pre- 
cepts, are  not  only  wonderfully  obscured,  but  wonderfully  disregarded. 
Such  was  the  contrast  between  Paul  and  the  Pharisees. 

The  Presbytery  met  April  2d,  1816,  in  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
East  Kishacoquillas.  At  this  meeting  commissioners  from  the  congre- 
gation of  Hart's  Log,  presented  a  memorial  and  remonstrance  of  the 
trustees  of  said  congregation  against  the  action  of  the  Presbytery  at 
its  last  meeting,  in  recognizing  the  congregation  of  Alexandria.  The 
commissioners  were  heard  in  support  of  their  remonstrance,  and  Pres- 
bytery refused  to  rescind  their  former  action  in  reference  to  the  people 
of  the  congregation  of  Alexandria.  The  commissioners  gave  notice 
that,  in  behalf  of  the  congregation  of  Hart's  Log,  they  would  appeal 
to  the  Synod. 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  October  following,  the 
business  in  reference  to  Alexandria  congregation  was  again  brought 
before  Presbytery,  by  commissioners  from  both  the  parties  concerned; 
the  commissioners  representing  the  people  of  Alexandria,  praying 
that  they  might  be  again  recognized  as  a  congregation,  and  the  com- 
missioners on  the  part  of  Hart's  Log  remonstrating  against  such  recog- 
nition. On  motion,  the  consideration  of  this  matter  was  postponed 
till  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery.  But  a  motion  was  made  and 
carried,  that  the  Rev.  James  Johnston  be  appointed  to  preach  in  the 
church  of  Hart's  Log  on  the  2d  Sabbath  of  November :  and  that  he 


72    •  HISTORY   OF    THE   PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

and  Mr.  Sinclair,  a  ruling  elder  of  the  church  of  Sinking  Valley  con- 
gregation, be  a  committee  to  advise  with  the  people  of  Alexandria 
and  Hart's  Log  for  the  purpose  of  effecting  a  reconciliation,  and 
report  to  Presbytery  at  its  next  meeting. 

The  next  stated  meeting  was  held  on  the  19th  of  November  follow- 
ing, at  which  time  the  committee  appointed  for  reconciliation  report- 
ed that  they  had  failed  to  effect  a  reunion  under  Mr.  John  Johnston, 
as  the  pastor  of  Hart's  Log  congregation. 

The  next  day  another  petition  was  presented  from  the  dissatisfied 
portion,  asking  to  be  recognized  as  a  separate  congregation ;  and  a 
remonstrance  by  the  trustees  of  Hart's  Log  congregation  against  such 
recognition  by  the  Presbytery.  Presbytery  postponed  definite  action 
till  the  next  meeting  of  the  Presbytery.  Thus  the  business  passed 
over  till  the  next  year. 

During  this  year,  additions  were  made  to  the  roll  of  the  Presbytery 
by  the  reception  of  the  Rev.  James  Galbraith,  an  ordained  minister 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone.  Calls  from  the  congregations  of 
Frankstown  and  Williamsburg  were  presented  to  Presbytery  for  Mr. 
Galbraith,  which  he  accepted ;  and  arrangements  were  made  for  his 
installation  at  a  meeting  to  be  held  a  Williamsbui'g,  on  the  3d  Tuesday 
of  November. 

Mr.  William  A.  Boyd,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle, 
applied  to  be  received  under  care  of  Presbytery,  having  the  usual 
testimonials  of  character  and  licensure,  and  dismission  to  the  Hun- 
tingdon Presbytery ;  and  calls  were  put  -in  his  hands  from  the  united 
congregations  of  Spruce  Creek  and  Sinking  Valley,  each  for  half  his 
time.  Arrangements  were  made  for  the  ordination  and  installation 
of  Mr.  Boyd  at  the  next  stated  meeting  of  Presbytery,  if  the  way  be 
clear.  At  the  meeting  of  Presbytery,  April  2d,  1817,  Mr.  Boyd  was 
.ordained  and  installed,  in  which  service  Mr.  Hutcheson  preached  the 
sermon,  and  Mr.  Coulter  presided,  and  gave  the  charges  to  pastor 
and  people. 

The  persons  who  had  withdrawn  from  the  congregation  of  Hart's 
Log,  and  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  John  Johnston,  renewed  their  ap- 
plication to  be  erected  into  a  separate  congregation,  which  the  Presby- 
tery declined  to  do,  assigning  their  reasons  in  a  series  of  resolutions, 
the  third  and  the  last  of  which  were  to  this  effect : 

"  That  as  the  party  which  have  withdrawn  persist  in  declaring  that  the 
ministrations  of  the  Rev.  John  Johnstqn  are  not  for  their  spiritual  advan- 
tage, supplies  be  sent  to  them  to  preach  and  administer  ordinances.     And 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON'.  16 

that  it  be  considered  prudent  for  the  people  who  have  separated  from  Hart's 
Log  congregation  not  to  connect  themselves  with  any  neighboring  congre- 
gation in  calling  a  minister,  thus  leaving  the  way  open  for  a  reunion  when 
circumstances  render  it  practicable." 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  the  Fall  of  1817,  the  subject  of 
raising  money  for  the  education  of  poor  and  pious  young  men  having 
in  view  the  ministry,  was  taken  up  in  obedience  to  an  injunction  of 
the  General  Assembly,  and  it  was  recommended  to  the  members  to 
take  such  measures  as  may  be  considered  prudent  and  practicable, 
respecting  the  selecting  and  supporting  such  candidates  for  the  minis- 
try. Order  was  also  taken  in  regard  to  the  contribution  by  each 
pastoral  charge  to  the  commissioners  fund,  raising  it  from  four  to  six 
dollars. 

A  letter  from  the  Board  of  Missions,  accompanied  with  an  address 
to  the  churches,  requesting  the  Presbytery  to  aid  them  by  missionary 
associations,  was  received  and  read.  The  consideration  was  deferred 
till  the  next  stated  meeting  in  October.  At  that  time  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Stuart  and  Coulter  were  appointed  a  committee  to  make 
report  on  the  subject.  This  committee  reported  the  next  day,  the 
substance  of  which  report  is  as  follows  : 

"  We  would  willingly  lend  a  helping  hand  in  this  important  work,  but 
from  the  particular  circumstances  of  the  churches  under  our  care,  we  be- 
lieve that  at  present  the  formation  of  a  missionary  society  within  our 
bounds  would  be  impracticable.  The  vacancies  under  our  care  are  numer- 
ous, our  members  (with  the  exception  of  one,  whose  age  and  infirmities 
render  him  unable  to  attend  to  the  duties  either  of  a  missionary  or  stated 
pastor)  have  each  of  them  two  pastoral  charges,  and  we  have  no  licentiate 
under  our  care.  We  believe,  therefore,  that  although  there  is  much  mission- 
ary ground  within  the  bounds  of  this  Presbytery,  no  missionary  could  be 
obtained.  Your  committee,  however,  are  of  opinion  that  missionary  asso- 
ciations on  the  congregational  plan  might  be  generally  formed,  and  that 
much  good  might  result  from  them.  Your  committee,  therefore,  beg  leave 
te  submit  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  every  congregation  under  the  care 
of  this  Presbytery,  to  form  a  missionary  association  within  its  bounds,  as 
soon  as  practicable,  and  that  the  money  raised  by  these  associations  be 
forwarded  to  the  Board  of  Missions,  acting  under  the  authority  of  the 
General  Assembly.'' 

In  October,  1818,  the  Presbytery  met  at  Mifflin  town.  The  congre- 
gation of  Alexandria  requested  leave  to  prosecute  a  call  for  Mr.  James 
Thompson,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland.  At  the 
same  time  a  written  application  from   the  congregation  of  Shaver's 


74  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

Creek,  was  laid  before  Presbytery  for  the  same  purpose.  A  letter 
from  Rev.  Matthew  Stephens,  who  was  absent  by  reason  of  age  and 
infirmities,  was  presented,  requesting  Presbytery  not  to  give  the  con. 
gregation  of  Shaver's  Creek  leave  to  prosecute  a  call  for  Mr.  Thomp- 
son, or  any  other  person,  until  they  had  paid  the  arrearages  of  salary 
due  to  him. 

It  was  moved  and  seconded  that  the  resolution  adopted  by  Presby- 
tery in  April,  1817,  prohibiting  the  congregation  of  Alexandria  from 
uniting  with  any  other  congregation  in  calling  a  pastor,  be  rescinded. 
After  some  discussion,  the  consideration  of  the  resolution  was  deferred 
till  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery.  But  by  resolution  of  Presby- 
tery, the  call  from  Shaver's  Creek  congregation  for  Mr.  Thompson,  was 
allowed  to  be  prosecuted,  notwithstanding  the  objection  of  Mr. 
Stephens,  the  former  pastor.  Because  Mr.  Stephens  had  already 
taken  the  matter  of  his  claim  into  the  civil  court,  against  the  advice 
of  different  members  of  the  Presbytery ;  and  the  congregation  of 
Shaver's  Creek  was  willing  to  do  what  the  Presbytery  would  say  was 
just  and  reasonable  in  the  premises. 

The  Rev.  Nathaniel  R.  Snowden,  a  minister  in  good  standing  in  the 
Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  was  at  this  meeting  received  by  Presbytery ; 
and  calls  from  the  congregations  of  Millerstown  and  Liverpool  were 
put  into  his  hands.  Mr.  S.  announced  his  acceptance  of  these  calls : 
and  Messrs.  Hutcheson  and  Kennedy  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
install  him,  to  met  at  Millerstown,  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  Novem- 
ber next.  At  a  subsequent  meeting  the  committee  reported  that  in 
accordance  with  the  appointment  of  Presbytery,  they  had  installed 
Mr.  Snowden  at  the  time  designated  as  pastor  of  the  united  congrega- 
tions of  Millerstown  and  Liverpool. 

At  an  intermediate  meeting  of  Presbytery,  held  at  Alexandria, 
February  2,  1819,  the  matter  in  regard  to  the  Alexandria  congregation 
was  taken  up.  The  following  substitute  was  offered  for  the  resolution 
presented  at  the  last  stated  meeting,  viz : 

"  Whereas,  Presbytery  at  their  stated  meeting  in  April,  1817,  adopted 
certain  resolutions  erecting  the  people  of  Alexandria,  who  had  separated 
from  the  congregation  of  Hart's  Log,  into  a  distinct  congregation,  but  con- 
sidered it  at  that  time  prudent  for  them  to  remain  vacant,  without  connect- 
ing with  any  other  congregation  in  calling  a  minister,  thus  leaving  the  way 
open  for  a  reunion  with  Hart's  Log  congregation  when  circumstances  may 
render  it  practicable  ;  And  whereas,  nearly  two  years  have  elapsed,  without 
any  prospect  of  such  a  change  of  cii  cumstances  ;  And  whereas,  Presbytery 
no  longer  considers  it  prudent,  expedient,  or  conducive  to  the  interests  of 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  i .) 

religion,  that  the  congregation  of  Alexandria  remain  in  a  state  of -suspense 
and  vacancy  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  said  congregation  be  no  longer  considered  under  any 
restriction  with  respect  to  the  calling  of  a  minister  in  connection  with 
another  congregation." 

The  trustees  of  the  congregation  of  Hart's  Log  were  called  upon  to 
state  objections,  if  any  they  had,  to  the  above  substitute.  The  trus- 
tees, the  next  day,  laid  before  Presbytery,  in  writing,  objections  to 
the  proposed  action  of  Presbytery.  The  Presbytery,  after  mature 
consideration  of  the  objections  presented  by  the  trustees  of  Hart's 
Log  congregation,  deemed  them  insufficient  to  arrest  the  action  of 
Presbytery,  and  adopted  the  substitute. 

Mr.  James  Thompson,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Northumber- 
land, being  now  present,  requested  to  be  taken  under  the  care  of 
Presbytery ;  and  his  testimonials  of  good  standing,  and  regular  dis- 
mission being  satisfactory,  he  was  received  according  to  his  request. 
Calls  from  the  congregations  of  Shaver's  Creek  and  Alexandria  for 
Mr.  Thompson  were  presented,  and  being  found  in  order,  were  put 
into  his  hands  and  accepted  by  him.  On  the  19th  day  of  April,  1819, 
Mr.  Thompson  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  congregations 
of  Shaver's  Creek  and  Alexandria,  on  which  occasion  Mr.  Galbraith 
preached  the  sermon  from  Isaiah  52 :  7,  and  Mr.  Linn  presided,  and 
gave  the  charges  to  the  minister  and  people. 

Notwithstanding  the  failure  of  the  Presbytery  in  1810  to  collect 
sufficient  funds  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  education  of  one  young 
man  for  the  ministry ;  yet  the  matter  of  the  education  of  poor  and 
pious  young  men  for  the  ministry  was  not  wholly  overlooked,  or 
altogether  abandoned.  The  attention  of  the  Presbytery  was  called  to 
the  subject  by  the  General  Assembly  from  time  to  time. 

In  1817  the  following  recommendation  appears  among  the  minutes 
of  the  Presbytery,  viz :  "  That  the  members  of  Presbytery  take  such 
measures  as  may  be  considered  prudent  and  practicable,  to  comply 
with  the  injunction  of  the  General  Assembly  respecting  the  selecting 
and  supporting  of  poor  and  pious  young  men  for  the  gospel  ministry." 
It  will  be  recollected  that  reference  has  before  been  made  to  the  pre- 
judice prevailing  among  many  members  of  the  congregations  to  this 
mode  of  education.  Hence  the  terms  of  the  above  recommendation — 
'■'•prudent  and  practicable  measures"  to  be  taken  in  endeavoring  to  raise 
funds  for  this  object.  The  congregations  had  not  yet  been  educated 
in  the  duty  of  giving,  and  the  prejudices  against  this  particular  object 


76  HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

had  not  yet  been  broken  down.  In  the  effort  to  obtain  additional 
pastors  for  the  churches,  those  who  were  already  pastors  might  be 
driven  out,  or  their  usefulness  and  influence  greatly  impaired.  It  was, 
therefore,  necessary  to  be  prudent  and  cautious  in  urging  this  matter 
upon  the  people.  For  the  same  reason  the  Presbytery  always,  in  their 
recommendations  and  resolutions,  refer  to  the  authority  and  injunc- 
tions of  the  General  Assembly,  as  their  authority  for  enjoining  it  upon 
their  churches. 

In  1819,  the  Presbytery  appointed  a  committee  of  its  members  in 
conformity  with  the  9th  Article  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Education 
Society  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  under  the  care  of  the  General 
Assembly,  and  to  be  auxiliary  to  said  society,  to  consist  of  five  mem- 
bers, three  ministers  and  two  elders.  Messrs.  John  Hutcheson,  James 
Linn  and  James  Thompson,  ministers,  and  James  Knox  and'  John  G. 
Lowry,  elders,  were  appointed  said  committee.  At  the  same  time  the 
Presbytery  enjoined  it  upon  their  members  to  lay  this  matter  before 
the  people  of  their  charges,  (and  in  the  same  terms  as  the  recommen- 
dation of  1817,)  and  by  such  means  as  they  may  deem  most  prudent 
and  practicable  endeavor  to  procure  funds  for  said  society. 

The  above  committee  were  appointed  to  draught  a  constitution  of  a 
society  auxiliary  to  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  General  Assembly, 
which  committee  reported  at  the  following  meeting  in  November. 
Their  report  was  accepted,  and,  with  some  alterations,  adopted.  The 
same  subject  was  called  up  at  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  April, 
]  820,  by  an  inquiry  addressed  to  the  members  in  regard  to  what  pro- 
gress had  been  made  in  obtaining  subscribers  for  the  Education  Socie- 
ty contemplated  to  be  organized  at  this  meeting.  It  appeared  that 
but  few  subscribers  had  been  obtained,  and  the  further  consideration 
of  the  subject  was  deferred  till  the  next  meeting  of  the  Presbytery. 
At  that  time  a  new  committee  was  appointed,  and  the  members  of 
Presbytery  enjoined  to  use  exertions  in  their  respective  congregations 
either  by  forming  auxiliary  societies,  or  otherwise  to  raise  money  for 
the  object  contemplated. 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  October,  1819,  Mr. 
Joseph  Adams  was  introduced  and  recommended  to  Presbytery  by 
Rev.  James  Linn,  as  a  young  man  of  promising  talents,  and  hopeful 
piety,  and  who  had  already  received  a  classical  education  and  was  re- 
cieved  under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  and  recommended  to  the  Board 
of  Education  for  assistance.  Mr.  Adams  was  taken  under  the  care  of 
Presbytery  at  this  time  solely  with  a  view  to  recommend  him  to  the 


HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF   HUNTINGDON,  77 

Board  of  Education  for  assistance,  but  was  again,  in  1823,  formally 
taken  under  their  care,  and  assigned  parts  of  trial  with  a  view  to 
licensure.  On  the  12th  day  of  October,  1826,  Mr.  Adams  was  licensed, 
and  employed  for  a  time  as  a  missionary  within  the  bounds  of  t In  - 
Presbytery. 

The  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  which  was  held  at  Lewis- 
town,  November  24,  1819,  was  opened  by  a  Mr.  John  P.  Thompson,  a 
licentiate  of  the  Baptist  Association  of  Philadelphia,  with  a  sermon 
from  Matthew  10:  7,  first  clause,  u  And  as  ye  go  preach"  The  Synod, 
on  the  review  of  the  minutes  of  Presbytery,  took  exception  to  this, 
and  Mr.  Coulter,  a  member  of  the  Presbytery,  happening  to  be  the 
moderator  of  Synod  at  the  time,  was  under  the  necessity  of  signing 
the  exception  as  moderator.  We  do  not  know  whether  it  was  in 
accordance  with  his  personal  views  of  propriety  or  not,  but  he  would 
not  of  course,  choose  as  a  matter  of  taste,  to  put  his  signature  to  an 
implied  censure  of  his  own  Presbytery.  Perhaps  there  may  be  diver- 
sity of  opinion  with  regard  to  the  propriety  of  this  exception,  but  one 
thing  we  are  sure  will  meet  with  universal  approval,  namely,  the 
appropriateness  of  the  text  chosen  by  the  young  gentleman,  "And  as 
ye  go  preach."  No  more  suitable  text  could  have  been  chosen  for  the 
opening  service  of  a  Presbytery.  In  inviting  a  Baptist  brother  to  such 
a  service  as  this,  we  do  not  know  whether  the  Presbytery  or  the 
Baptist  made  the  greater  sacrifice  of  principle.  The  Baptist  seemed 
to  recognize  the  validity  of  the  Presbytery  as  a  court  of  Jesus  Christ 
composed  of  a  company  of  unbaptized  men,  and  the  Presbytery  to 
ignore  infant  baptism,  and  sprinkling,  as  a  valid  mode  of  adminis- 
tering the  ordinance ;  at  least,  to  hold  the  denial  of  the  ordinance, 
the  sign  and  seal  of  the  covenant,  to  the  children  of  believers,  was 
an  unimportant  omission.  Upon  this  subject  it  may  not  be  out  of 
place  to  express  an  opinion  in  general,  having  reference  not  to  thi< 
case  alone,  but  all  invitations  given  to  ministers  of  other  denomina- 
tions, not  of  the  Presbyterian  order,  to  sit  as  corresponding  mem- 
bers in  our  Synods  and  Presbyteries,  The  General  Assembly  cannot 
do  it,  from  the  nature  of  its  organization.  When  an  invitation  is 
thus  given  to  a  brother,  what  is  the  privilege  conferred  as  under- 
stood by  us?  That  he  may  speak  on  any  subject  that  comes  before 
the  body,  but  he  may  not  vote.  It  is  regarded  as  merely  compli- 
mentary, and  it  would  be  considered  an  unusual  manifestation  of 
forwardness  for  a  corresj:>onding  member  of  another  denomination, 
especially  to  speak  on  any  question  before  the  Presbytery  or  Synod, 


78  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

unless  invited  so  to  do.  But  suppose  he  should  be  inclined  to  speak, 
might  not  our  Presbyteries  and  Synods  be  converted  into  mere  de- 
bating societies?  And  would  it  be  the  duty  of  any  man  to  sit  still 
and  see  what  he  conscientiously  believes  to  be  the  truth  of  God, 
overrun  in  an  assembly  of  which  he  is  part  and  parcel,  to  all  intents 
and  purposes,  if  our  invitation  means  anything?  But  the  most 
available  objection  to  this  thing  of  corresponding  members  of  other 
denominations,  is  the  absolute  inconsistency  of  the  practice.  We  in- 
vite men  to  sit  and  deliberate  in  our  Presbyteries,  when,  if  one  of  our 
young  men  candidates  for  licensure,  were  to  hold  but  one  of  their 
principal  errors,  we  would  not  permit  him  to  enter  the  ministry  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  We  probably  would  not  pronounce  on 
his  piety,  but  we  would  tell  him  that  his  sentiments  would  be  better 
suited  to  some  other  denomination.  * 

J '  At  the  meeting  of  Presbytery  thus  opened,  Mr.  James  S.  Woods,  a 

licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  appeared  with  proper 
testimonials  of  his  good  standing  and  dismission  to  this  Presbytery, 
and  was  received  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery.  A  call  from  the 
congregation  of  Waynesburg  (McVeytown)  was  laid  before  Presbytery 
for  Mr.  Woods,  for  one-half  of  his  time.  The  call  being  accepted  the 
Presbytery  appointed  his  ordination  to  take  place  at  the  meeting  of 
Presbytery,  if  the  way  be  clear  ;  Mr.  Coulter  to  preach  the  sermon  on 
the  occasion,  and  Mr.  Hutcheson  to  preside  and  give  the  charge. 

The  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  in  the  Spring  of  1820,  com- 
menced with  the  record  of  the  death  of  the  Rev.  James  Johnston, 
pastor  of  East  Kishacoquillas  congregation,  one  of  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbytery.     He  died  on  the  4th  of  January  preceding. 

Mr.  Woods,  at  this  meeting,  preached  his  trial  sermon  for  ordina- 
tion, as  the  opening  service  of  the  Presbytery,  which  was  sustained: 
and  afterwards  he  was  examined  on  the  languages,  the  sciences,  phi- 
losophy and  theology,  which  examinations  being  approved,  Presbytery 
proceeded  to  ordain  and  install  him  pastor  of  the  congregation  of 
Waynesburg  (McVeytown)  for  one-half  of  his  time. 

The  Rev.  Nathaniel  R.  Snowden  at  this  meeting  resigned  his  pas- 
toral charges,  Millerstown  and  Liverpool,  with  the  consent  of  the  con- 
gregations, and  was  dismissed,  at  his  request,  with  suitable  credentials, 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland. 

At  the  regular  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  October  of  this  year, 
the  Rev.  Samuel  Hill,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ronte,  Ire- 
land, applied    to   be    taken    under  the  care  of  Presbytery.     All  his 


HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  79 

papers  being  found  in  order,  with  the  collateral  testimony  required  of 
a  foreign  minister,  he  was  taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery.  The 
congregations  of  East  Kishacoquillas  and  Dry  Valley  requested  to 
have  Mr.  H.  appointed  their  supply  till  the  next  meeting  of  the 
Presbytery.  And  at  the  expiration  of  the  time  these  congregations 
requested  that  he  might  be  continued  their  supply  for  the  ensuing 
six  months,  till,  as  a  foreign  minister,  Mr.  H.  could  receive  and 
accept  a  regular  call.     These  requests  were  granted. 

At  this  meeting  is,  for  the  first  time,  a  record  made  of  the  members 
of  the  Presbytery  entering  into  a  free  conversation  on  the  subject  of 
the  state  of  religion  in  the  various  congregations;  a  practice  which 
has  never  been  omitted  from  that  time  to  the  present,  at  every  stated 
meeting  of  the  Presbytery.  The  practice  may  have  existed  in  the 
Presbytery  from  the  beginning,  but  no  record  had  been  made  of  it 
till  now.  Also  a  committee  to  prepare  a  narrative  for  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  state  of  religion  within  the  bounds  of  Presbytery,  is 
not  distinctly  mentioned  till  now ;  though  it  may  have  been  intended 
when  it  is  recorded  that  committees  were  appointed  to  prepare  a 
report  for  the  General  Assembly. 

Mr.  Hill  having  nearly  completed  his  term  of  probation  as  a 
foreign  minister,  and  the  congregations  of  East  Kishacoquillas  and 
Dry  Valley  being  anxious  for  his  permanent  settlement  among  them, 
Presbytery  made  arrangements  for  his  ordination  and  installation, 
though  his  papers  had  not  yet  passed  in  review  before  the  Synod.  The 
Synod,  however,  took  exception  to  this,  in  approving  the  minutes.  It 
seems,  however,  before  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery  came  to  be 
reviewed  by  the  Synod,  the  Presbytery  did  proceed  to  ordain  and 
install  Mr.  Hill  pastor  of  East  Kishacoquillas  and  Dry  Valley 
churches,  on  the  3d  of  October,  1821. 

The  pastoral  relation  of  Rev.  William  A.  Boyd  to  the  congregations 
of  Spruce  Creek  and  Sinking  Valley,  was  at  the  same  time  dissolved 
on  account  of  his  continued  ill  health,  rendering  him  unable  to  dis- 
charge pastoral  duties.  It  was  with  much  regret  the  congregations 
consented  to  the  dissolution,  but  the  state  of  his  health  demanded  his 
release.  Mr.  Boyd  died  of  pulmonary  complaint  a  little  more  than  a 
year  after  he  resigned  his  charge. 

The  raising  of  funds  for  the  missionary,  educational,  and  other  ben- 
evolent objects  of  the  church,  frequently  engaged  the  attention  of 
the  Presbytery.  At  almost  every  regular  meeting,  at  least  once  a 
year,  these  subjects  came  up  for  discussion  and  consideration.     Mis- 


80  HISTORV   OF   THE   PRESBYTERY   OF   HUNTINGDON. 

sionary  and  education  societies  were  formed,  constitutions  framed, 
rules  adopted,  and  committees  appointed.  At  this  time,  October  3> 
1821,  Messrs.  Coulter  and  Linn,  ministers,  and  Rankin,  elder,  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  report  some  plan  for  raising  money  in  all 
the  churches  of  the  Presbytery,  for  missionary  and  other  purposes. 
This  committee  no  doubt  reported  some  plan,  but  the  fruits  were 
very  meagre,  as  all  former  resolutions  and  plans  were  comparatively 
unproductive.  It  is  more  than  probable  the  chief  cause  of  failure 
was  the  scarcity  of  money  in  those  times,  as  much  as  indisposition  on 
the  part  of  the  people.  The  truth  is,  the  churches  had  as  much  as 
they  thought  they  could  do  in  sustaining  the  gospel  among  them- 
selves. Farms  may  have  been  large,  but  they  were  comparatively 
unimproved ;  and  there  were  but  few  markets  for  their  surplus  pro- 
duce, which  was  rather  exchanged  than  sold.  Money  could  with  diffi- 
culty be  obtained  on  any  conditions.  Presbytery,  on  one  occasion, 
was  under  the  necessity  of  reducing  the  assessment  on  full  pastoral 
charges  for  the  commissioners  and  contingent  fund  of  the  General 
Assembly,  from  six  to  four  dollars  •  the  former  sum  being  considered 
excessive  from  some  cause.  The  farmer  who  paid  ten  dollars  towards 
the  salary  of  his  pastor  then,  paid  that  which  cost  him  more  time,  and 
labor  and  anxiety  to  procure,  than  five  times  that  amount  now  would 
demand  Before  the  present  highly  favored  generation  look  with 
contempt  upon  the  liberality  of  the  fath  ers,  let  them,  at  least,  come 
up  to  the  measure  of  the  comparative  obligation  of  their  times. 

At  the  first  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  the  year  1822,  a 
Mr.  John  McIlhenney  presented  himself  before  the  Presbytery  as  a 
licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Litterkenny,  Ireland,  and  requested  to 
be  taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery.  He  presented  a  regular  cer- 
tificate of  his  licensure,  and  such  collateral  testimony  as  was  consider- 
ed sufficient.  This  man  was  afterwards  a  source  of  great  trouble  and 
annoyance  to  the  Presbytery.  After  personal  conversation  with  him, 
and  various  examinations,  he  was  received  under  their  care  as  a 
foreign  probationer.  He  seems  to  have  been  a  man  of  some  popular 
talent,  and  was  engaged  as  stated  supply  to  two  of  the  most  respecta- 
ble congregation  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery,  till  the  close 
of  his  year  of  probation,  when  calls  from  said  congregations  were  pre- 
pared to  be  presented  to  him.  But  about  the  time  these  calls  were  to 
be  laid  before  the  Presbytery,  unfavorable  reports  in  regard  to  his 
character  began  to  be  circulated,  and  were  brought  to  the  notice  of 
the  Presbytery.     A  female  followed  him  to  this  country  from  Ireland, 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  81 

who  claimed  to  be  Wis  wife.  l>ut  whom  he  disowned,  ami  he  was 
charged  with  acts  of  grossly  immoral  character,  since  he  came  within 
the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery.  After  several  meetings  upon  the  sub- 
ject and  the  examination  of  witnesses,  and  letters  from  Ireland  in 
regard  to  Mr.  McIlhenney's  character,  the  Presbytery  revoked  his 
license.  This  was  the  end  of  his  connection  with  the  Presbytery, 
though  it  is  believed  thai  Mi'.  McIlhenney  continued  to  preach  in 
the  southwestern  part  of  the  Presbytery,  to  those  who  would  hear 
him  as  long  as  he  lived,  or  as  long  as  he  was  able  to  preach.  The 
letter-  and  other  testimonials  on  which  he  was  received  under  the 
care  of  Presbytery,  and  which  were  at  the  time  deemed  satisfactory. 
were  afterwards  found  to  have  heen  surreptitiously  obtained. 

About  the  close  of  the  year  1821,  reports  injurious  to  the  character 
and  usefulness  of  the  Rev.  William  Kennedy,  pastor  of  the  church 
of  Lewistown,  were  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  Presbytery.  In 
particular  and  specially  he  was  charged  with  the  intemperate  use  ol 
ardent  spirits.  Temperance  had  not  in  that  day  attained  the  point 
or  status  of  total  abstinence.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  meet  at 
Lewistown  on  a  designated  day,  to  investigate  the  grounds  for  these 
reports  and  to  take  testimony.  At  the  stated  meeting  of  Presbytery. 
April.  1822,  the  committee  reported.  An  adjourned  meeting  was  held 
in  May  following,  with  a  view  to  the  formal  issuing  of  this  case.  At 
that  meeting,  after  hearing  all  the  witnesses  that  could  be  made  to 
appear,  Presbytery  jjassed  unanimously  the  following  minute,  viz  : 

•'  Although  the  testimony  received  against  the  Rev.  William  Kennedy 
is  not  of  such  a  clear  and  specific  nature  as  to  subject  him  to  the  high  cen- 
sure of  suspension,  yet,  in  the  opinion  of  Presbytery,  his  conduct  has  not 
always  been  so  circumspect  in  the  case  in  which  he  is  charged,  as  it  ought 
to  have  been,  and  lie  is  hereby  warned  to  be  more  watchful  in  future,  so  a? 
to  prevent  any  ground  of  stispioion,  and  that  he  guard  against  every  ap- 
pearance of  evil." 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Kennedy  had  resigned  the  pastoral  charge  ol 
the  congregation  of  Lewistown,  and  at  the  conclusion  of  his  trial. 
requested  leave  to  travel  out  of  the  hound-  of  Presbyterj  till  the 
next  meeting. 

Mr.  Kennedy's  troubles,  as  well  as  those  of  some  other  of  hit* 
brethren,  resulted  from  the  common  and  universal  use  of  intoxicating 
liquors  in  that  'lav.  The  wonder  is  that  they  were  not  all  overtaken, 
one  time  or  another,  in  absolute  intoxication  1     And  so  common  was 

the  use  among  the  members  of  the  churches,  and  so  tnanj  occasions 

it 


T- 


T- 


82  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON. 

tempting  to  the  excessive  use,  that  testimony  against  a  minister  as  to 
being  intoxicated  on  a  particular  occasion  was  liable  to  grave  sus- 
picion. A  drunk  man  thinks  the  whole  globe  is  turning  topsy-turvy, 
while  he  is  as  steady  as  the  pillars  of  Hercules.  These  suggestions 
are  thrown  out  because  of  the  extreme  doubt  which  subsequent  facts 
cast  upon  this  case,  as  to  the  main  charge  being  well  founded.  At 
the  time  of  the  investigation  Mr.  Kennedy  denied  the  charge  in 
mild  and  humble  terms,  "  I  am  not  conscious  of  having  acted  impro- 
perly." His  contemporaries  believed  him  to  be  a  good  and  godly 
man,  and  his  subsequent  lengthened  ministry  in  a  neighboring  Pres- 
bytery, was  without  reproach  or  suspicion. 

October  1st,  1822,  Mr.  Kennedy  was,  at  his  own  request,  dismissed 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Erie;  but  ultimately  settled  in  the  bounds  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Clarion,  where  he  continued  to  labor  till  his  death. 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  April,  1823,  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Kamsey  was  introduced  to  Presbytery  by  the  Rev.  John  Hutche- 
son,  and  taken  under  their  care  as  a  candidate  for  the  gospel  ministry. 
At  the  same  time  Mr.  Joseph  Adams,  whose  case  was  before  men- 
tioned, was  formally  taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery.  Both  of 
these  young  gentlemen  were  then  in  attendance  at  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Princeton,  in  a  course  of  preparation  for  the  ministry. 

The  Rev.  John  Johnston,  pastor  of  Hart's  Log  and  Huntingdon 
congregations,  requested  by  letter  to  Presbytery  at  this  meeting,  on 
account  of  old  age  and  infirmities,  the  dissolution  of  his  pastoral  rela- 
tion to  the  former  of  said  congregations.  The  consent  of  the  congre- 
gation being  ascertained  through  their  commissioner,  the  request  was 
granted,  and  the  pastoral  relation  dissolved.  At  the  meeting  in  the 
fall,  Mr.  Johnston  requested  that  his  pastoral  relation  to  the  congre- 
gation of  Huntingdon  be  also  dissolved.  The  congregation  consent- 
ing, the  relation  was  accordingly  dissolved. 

Mr.  Samuel  Swan,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia, 
applied  to  be  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery.  Having 
produced  a  regular  certificate  of  his  licensure  and  dismission,  with  a 
view  to  •  put  himself  under  the  care  of  this  Presbytery ;  he  was 
received  as  a  licentiate  in  good  standing.  At  the  same  time  a  call  for 
the  pastoral  services  of  Mr.  Swan,  for  one-half  of  his  time,  from  Sink- 
ing Valley  congregation,  was  laid  before  Presbytery.  It  was  laid  on 
the  table  for  future  consideration.  During  this  year  two  pf  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbytery  were  removed  by  death.  The  Rev.  William 
A.  Boyd  died  on  the  11th  day  of  May,  and  the  Rev.  John  Johnston, 


HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  83 

one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Presbytery,  on  the  16th  day  of 
December,  1823.  At  the  Spring  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  April  6, 
1824,  Mr.  Hutcheson  presented  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  R. 
Snowden,  addressed  to  him,  from  which  it  appeared  that  he  was 
requested  to  lay  before  Presbytery  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Snowden 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland,  with  a  view  to  his  becoming 
a  member  of  this  Presbytery ;  upon  which  the  following  action  was 
had: 

"Presbytery  taking  into  consideration  that  Mr.  S.  has  been  within  their 
bounds  more  than  sixteen  months,  during  which  time  three  meetings  of 
Presbytery  have  been  held,  besides  the  present  one ;  and  that  Mr.  Snow- 
den, although  in  usual  health,  has  not  attended  any  of  them  ;  considering 
also  that  nearly  one  year  has  elapsed  since  he  received  his  dismission  from 
the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland  ;  and  that  it  was  received  upon  his  ap- 
plication by  letter ;  and,  moreover,  being  of  opinion  that  every  minister  of 
our  connection  should,  when  in  his  power,  attend  the  judicatories  of  the 
church,  and  give  an  account  to  his  brethren  how  his  time  has  been 
employed. 

Resolved,  That  the  application  thus  made  in  behalf  of  Mr.  Snowden,  is 
irregular,  and  that  his  request  cannot  be  granted." — Min.  Vol.  I,  p. 
377-378. 

At  this  time  a  regular  call  was  laid  before  Presbytery  by  the  con- 
gregation of  Lewistown  for  Rev.  James  S.  Woods,  for  one-half  of  his  ~~ /-^ 
pastoral  services.  In  the  Spring  of  1820  Mr.  Woods  had  been 
ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Waynesburg 
(McVeytown)  for  one-half  of  his  time;  and  from  April,  1823,  to  April, 
1824,  had  been  the  stated  supply  of  Lewistown.  The  call  from  Lewis- 
town  being  accepted  by  Mr.  Woods,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Hutcheson  and 
Hill  were  appointed  a  committee  to  install  him  on  the  28th  of  the 
present  month,  (April,  1824,)  which  service  was  performed  at  the  ap- 
pointed time. 

The  call  from  Sinking  Valley,  for  the  pastoral  services  of  Mr. 
Samuel  Swan,  was  then  taken  up  and  disposed  of  by  Mr.  S.  asking  a 
dismission  from  the  Presbytery,  to  put  himself  under  the  care  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Redstone.  The  congregations  of  Sinking  Valley  and 
Spruce  Creek  having  been  heretofore  united  in  the  support  of  a  pas- 
tor, and  the  congregation  of  Spruce  Creek  not  concurring  in  the  call 
to  Mr.  Swan,  he  could  not  be  supported  on  the  salary  promised,  and 
of  course  retired  from  the  field. 

At  this  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  the  following  minute  was  passed 
in  reference  to  lotteries,  balls,  and  other  fashionable  and  pernicious 
amusements  and  immoralities : 


84  HISTORY    OF    T1IK    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

■  It  having  appeared  from  the  report  of  some  of  the  members  of  Presby- 
tery, that  the  fashionable,  though  pernicious  vices  of  gambling,  making 
lotteries,  buying  lottery  tickets,  and  attending  public  halls,  etc.,  have  pre- 
vailed in  some  parts  of  our  bounds,  and  as  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  have  expressed  their  decided  disapprobation  of  sucb 
practice.-,  the  Presbytery  deem  it  proper  to  bear  their  decided  testimony 
against  them,  on  the  ground  that  they  are  injurious  to  the  interests  of  vital 
religion,  and  that  to  admit  persons  who  are  in  the  practice  of  them  to  the 
sealing  ordinances  of  the  church,  would  be  to  break  down  the  separating 
wall  between  the  church  and  the  world,  and  to  place  the  seals  of  the  cove- 
nant of  grace,  where  divine  revelation  does  not  authorize  us  to  place  them  ; 
therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  ministers  and  sessions  within 
our  bounds,  to  call  to  an  account  any  of  their  communicants  whom  the\ 
know  to  be  in  the  habit  of  practising  any  of  the  above  vices,  and  to  censure 
them  according  to  the  malignity  of  the  offense." — Min.  Vol.  1,  p.  381. 

A.s  already  stated.  Rev.  N.  R.  Snowmen  applied,  through  Mr. 
lli'T<  iiksox.  to  be  received  as  a  member  of  the  Presbytery,  which 
request  was  refused  for  the  reasons  before  given.  At  the  following 
meeting,  October  5,  1824,  Mr.  S.  appeared  in  Presbytery,  and  renewed 
his  request,  and  it  was  again  refused.  The  entire  history  of  Mr. 
Snowden's  connection  with  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  i-  as 
follows  : 

In  1818,  Mr.  S.  was  received  as  a  minister  in  good  standing  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  ("alls  were  at  the  same  time  presented  to  him 
front  The  congregations  of  Millerstown  and  Liverpool.  These  call- 
were  accepted,  and  he  was  installed  in  November  following.  In  the 
Spring  of  1S20,  Mr.  Sxowden  resigned  these  charges,  and  be  was  dis- 
inissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland.  Near  the  close  of  the 
year  1S22.  he  came  again  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Huntingdon,  and  after  laboring  for  some  time  as  a  supply  in  two  eon 
gregations  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery,  applied  in  the  Spring 
of  1824  to  be  received  into  the  Presbytery,  first  by  letter,  and  then 
personally  at  the  next  meeting,  which  requests  were  refused  as 
already  stated.  Some  reports  unfavorable  to  hi-  character  being  in 
circulation,  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland  requested  this  Presby- 
tery to  investigate  them.  After  which  Mr.  S.  was  sent  hack  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Northumberland,  the  charges  ,iLrain.-t  him.  with  the 
evidence  taken,  being  at  the  same  time  transmitted,  and  this  ended 
his  connection  with  this  Presbytery.  It  is  clue,  however,  to  the 
memory  of  Mr.  S.  to  say,  that  the  charges  exhibited  against  him  were 


HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESBYTER'S     OF    HUNTINGDON.  85 

bj  no  means  of  a  serious  character,  and  may  be  summed  up  by  say- 
ing, that  they  were  simple  indiscretions.  Mr.  S.  was  a  man  of  many  ex- 
centricities  of  character,  perhaps  not  sinful,  but  very  inconvenient. 

At  the  Fall  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  is24,  a  certain  young  man  " L2 
of  the  name  of  Samuel  Bryson  was  introduced  to  tin1  Presbyterj  bj 
Mr.  Linn,  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry.  He  was  received  as  a  can 
didate,  and  parts  of  trial  assigned  him.  In  the  Spring  of  1827,  having 
finished  a  regular  course  of  theological  studies  at  the  Seminary  of 
Princeton,  lie  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel.  His  trial  sermon 
was  the  first  and  last  which  he  delivered.  His  health  failed,  and  In- 
died  of  consumption,  in  Prince  Edward's  county.  Virginia,  on  the 
30th  of  April,  1828. 

In  the  Spring  of  1804,  the  Rev.  Matthew  Stephens  was  suspended 
from  the  ministry  on  charges  presented  against  him;  but  restored  al 
the  adjourned  meeting  in  June  following,  on  a  petition  signed  by  a 
large  number  of  the  members  of  his  congregation,  as  before  related. 
At  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  the  Fall  of  1824,  common  fame 
charged  him  with  being  guilty  of  various  gross  immoralities,  inconsis- 
tent not  only  with  ministerial,  but  christian  character;  therefore 
Presbytery  resolved  to  hold  an  adjourned  meeting  at  Shaver's  Creek 
church,  on  the  1st  Tuesday  of  December,  to  investigate  these  charge-  : 
and  Mr.  Stephens  was  cited  to  appear  and  answer,  and  the  witnesses 
were  also  cited.  In  t he  meantime,  before  the  case  was  brought  to 
trial:  and  even  before  the  charges  were  tabled  against  him  by  Presby- 
tery as  is  believed,  the  session  of  Shaver's  Creek  church  did  refuse 
him  the  privilege  of  coming  to  the  Lord's  Table.  Of  this  Mr.  S.  com- 
plained to  the  Presbytery,  alleging  that  Presbytery  alone  could  take 
cognizance  of  his  character  as  a  minister,  or  member  of  the  church 
After  some  discussion,  the  Presbytery  agreed  to  refer  the  question  to 
the  Synod  for  their  opinion:  "whether  a  church  session  lias,  in  anj 
case,  a  right  to  prevent  a  minister  of  the  gospel  from  coming  to  the 
Lord's  Table,  on  account  of  alleged  immoralities,  before  process  is  had 
■igainst  him  in  Presbytery?"  On  this  reference,  the  opinion  of  Synod, 
when  obtained,  was  in  favor  of  the  action  of  the  session  in  the  prem 
ises.  After  due  form  of  trial.  Mr.  S.  was  adjudged  guilty  of  all  the 
charges,  and  suspended  from  the  exercise  of  the  gospel  ministry.  Mr. 
Stephens  gave  notice  of  his  intention  to  appeal  to  Synod  from  tin 
action  of  the  Presbytery  in  his  case.  But  before  the  meeting  of  S\  no.l 
he  was  removed  by  death.  Mr.  S.  was  suspended  at  the  adjourned 
meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  in  December,  I S24.  and  died  May.  1825 


T 


86  HISTORY   OF    THE   PRESBYTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting,  held  June  21,  1825,  Mr.  John  Peebles,  a 
licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  presented  a  certificate  of  dis- 
mission, to  put  himself  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  ;  and  was  accord- 
ingly received.  Calls  from  Huntingdon  and  Hart's  Log  congregations 
were  presented  for  Mr.  Peebles,  which  were  put  into  his  hands,  and 
accepted  by  him.  And  the  usual  examinations  having  been  sustained 
by  him,  preparatory  to  ordination,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Presby- 
tery, it  was  resolved  to  proceed  the  next  day  to  his  ordination.  Mr. 
Linn  was  appointed  to  preach  the  ordination  sermon,  and  Mr.  Hutch- 
eson  to  preside  and  deliver  the  charge ;  and  Mr.  Peebles  «was  accord- 
ingly ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  united  congregations  of 
Huntingdon  and  Hart's  Log. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  held  at  East  Kishacoquillas, 
February  8,  1825,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Hill  requested  leave  to  resign  his 
charge  of  the  congregations  of  East  Kishacoquillas  and  Dry  Valley, 
and  to  be  dismissed  with  a  view  to  connect  himself  with  the  Associate 
Reformed  Presbytery  of  Monongahela.  Commissioners  appeared  on 
the  part  of  the  congregation  of  East  Kishacoquillas,  and  a  letter  from 
persons  belonging  to  Dry  Valley  congregation,  by  which  it  appeared 
that  the  congregations  gave  their  consent,  but  reluctantly ;  and  Mr. 
Hill's  request  was  granted,  his  pastoral  relation  dissolved,  and  he 
dismissed  with  the  usual  testimonials  to  the  A.  R.  Presbytery  of  Mon- 
ongahela. Mr.  Hill  had  received  a  call  to  the  1st  Associate  Reformed 
church  in  the  city  of  Pittsburgh. 


CHAPTER  V. 


FROM  1825  TO  1832. 

Several  Organized  Congregations  to  be  Supplied,  and  Missionary  Points  to  be  Occupied — Rev.  S. 
Hill  Returns  to  the  Presbytery — Ministers  Received,  and  Candidates  Licensed — Mr.  Jos.  B. 
Adams  appointed  Presbyterial  Missionary — Philadelphia  Bible  Society — Question  in  Regard 
to  Marriage — Question  of  Courtesy  in  Regard  to  Baptism — Mr.  James  Fergus  Irvine — Death 
of  Rev.  Jas.  H.  Stuart — Temperance  Resolution — Candidates  for  the  Ministry — Action  of 
Presbytery  in  Respect  to  Mr.  Robert  Thompson,  a  Domestic  Missionary — Mr.  B.  E.  Collins — 
Lotteries — Rev.  David  McKinney  and  Rev.  W.  Annan — Mr.  Jos.  B.  Adams  Ordained  as  an 
Evangelist — Death  of  Rev.  Jas.  Thompson — Alexandria  and  Hart's  Log  Congregations  Re- 
united— Rev.  James  Nourse  Received— Resolution  in  Regard  to  the  Attendance  of  Elders 
in  Presbytery  and  Synod — Dancing. 

THE  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  being  now  in  existence  over  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  there  were  yet  several  vacant  organized 
congregations  to  be  supplied,  and  many  points  of  missionary  labors  to 
be  occupied.  By  reason  of  the  division  of  the  Presbytery  in  1811, 
and  by  death  and  removal,  the  Presbytery  was  reduced  to  one 
ordained  minister  less  than  it  numbered  at  its  organization.  At  vari- 
ous times  efforts  had  been  made  to  procure  missionaries  to  labor 
within  their  bounds.  At  the  Spring  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in 
this  year  (1825)  Messrs.  Coulter  and  Woods  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  report  some  plan  for  supplying  more  regularly  the  vacancies 
within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery.  This  committee  reported, 
"  recommending  vacant  congregations  to  open  subscription  papers  to 
obtain  money  to  pay  missionaries  who  may  come  to  labor  among 
them ;  and  that  application  be  made  to  the  Board  of  Missions  to  send 
one  or  more  missionaries  to  labor  in  their  bounds,  who  may  expect 
to  be  paid  in  a  great  measure,  if  not  altogether,  for  their  services,  by 
the  people  among  whom  they  may  be  employed." 

Mr.  Hill  resigned  the  charge  of  East  Kishacoquillas  and  Dry 
Valley,  February,  1825,  to  take  charge  of  the  First  Associate  Reform- 
ed Church  of  Pittsburgh.  But  for  certain  reasons,  after  he  had  re- 
moved to  Pittsburgh,  and  been  received  by  the  A.  R.  Presbytery  of 
Monongahela,  he  refused  to  be  installed,  and  within  a  few  months 
returned  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery.     His  former  charge  of 


38  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

Easl  Kishacoquillas  being  yet  vacant,  immediately  moved  to  recall 
liini.  While  the  majority  of  the  congregation  was  anxious  to  recall 
aim,  a  small  minority,  offended  because  of  his  leaving  them  to  accepl 
of  the  call  from  Pittsburgh,  opposed  his  re-settlement,  it  seems  that 
;i  call  was  actually  prepared  to  be  presented  to  Presbytery,  and  in 
view  of  this  the  minority  presented  a  remonstrance  against  the  call 
being  put  into  his  hands.  There  were  several  petitions  presented  to 
Presbytery  at  different  times,  asking  for  his  re-settlement  and  as  man) 
remonstrances  against  it,  by  the  minority.  Presbytery  appointed  a 
committee  to  endeavor  to  reconcile  the  parties.  This  committee, 
after  having  had  an  interview  with  the  parties,  reported  that  they  had 
not  succeeded  in  effecting  a  reconciliation,  upon  which  the  Presbytery 
passed  the  following  resolution: 

" Resolved,  That  it  be  considered  inexpedient,  and  nut  conducive  to  the 
interests  of  religion,  that  Mr.  Hill  be  invited  to  be  the  pastor  or  stated 
supply  in  the  congregation  of  East  Kishacoquillas.  in  its  present  distract- 
ed condition." 

The  Associate  Reformed  Presbytery  of  Monongahela  refused  to  give 
Mr.  Hill  a  certificate  of  dismission  on  account  of  his  abrupt  depar- 
ture from  the  congregation  which  had  called  him,  and  consequently 
the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  did  not  see  their  way  clear  to  receive 
him  consistently  with  order,  and  for  nearly  two  years  Mr.  Hill  was 
held  in  suspense.  After  various  attempts  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Hill  to 
satisfy  the  Associate  Reformed  Presbytery,  and  procure  a  regular  dis- 
mission, he  laid  before  Presbytery  a  letter  signed  by  Rev.  Joseph 
Kerr,  moderator,  and  Rev.  John  Riddle,  clerk  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Monongahela,  stating  that  Mr.  Hill's  conduct  while  in  their  bounds 
was  exemplary  and  becoming  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  so  tar  as  known 
to  them,  and  the  Presbytery  had  nothing  against  him,  except  the 
manner  of  bis  return  to  his  former  charge.  Upon  the  report  of  a 
committee  appointed  to  consider  the  whole  case,  and  prepare  a  minute 
to  be  adopted  by  the  Presbytery,  Mr.  Hill  was  received  to  his  original 
standing  in  the  Presbytery,  April  4.  1827.  falls  were  presented  for 
him  from  Sinking  Valley  and  Spruce  Creek,  which  were  accepted, 
and  Mr.  H.  was  installed  on  the  11th  of  October  following. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  in  .June.  1825,  Mr.  John  Vandervieb  was 
received  as  a  licentiate  from  the  Philadelphia  <  llasses  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church.  At  his  request,'  the  Presbytery  resolved  to  ordain 
him  as  an  Evangelist,  in  view  of  the  destitute  region  in  which  he  re- 
sided and  proposed  to  Labor,  and  after  passing  the  usual  examinations 


i    ^11^'SlN 


PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

CLEARFIELD,  P* 


HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  89 

and  parts  of  trial  to  the  satisfaction  of  Presbytery,  he  was  ordained 
by  the  laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  Presbytery,  October  5,  1825. 
Mr.  Vandervier,  after  laboring  about  three  years  within  the  bounds 
of  the  Presbytery,  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Newton. 

During  the  years  1825,  '26  and  '27,  more  ministers  were  received  by* 
the  Presbytery  and  more  candidates  licensed  than  in  any  three  pre- 
vious years  in  the  history  of  the  Presbytery.  The  Kev.  George  Gray, 
was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland,  and  installed 
pastor  of  the  congregations  of  Upper  Tuscarora  and  Aughwick  in 
1825.  Mr.  Garry  Bishop  received  as  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Philadelphia,  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  congregations  of 
Pike  (Curwinsville)  and  Clearfield,  in  1826,  and  Messrs.  Joseph  B.  / 
Adams  and  William  Ramsey  licensed  the  same  year,  and  Mr.  Ramsey 
ordained  as  an  Evangelist  in  1827.  Mr.  William  P.  Cochran  was 
licensed,  but  immediately  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Missouri. 
The  same  year  Mr.  Samuel  Bryson  was  licensed,  and  the  Rev.  James 
H.  Stuart  was  received  as  an  ordained  minister  from  the  Presbytery 
of  Philadelphia,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  united  congregations  of 
East  and  West  Kishacoquillas. 

In  the. Spring  of  1826  the  Presbytery  made  an  effort  towards  pro- 
curing a  missionary  to  visit  the  vacant  congregations,  preach  to  them, 
and  ascertain  how  much  each  vacancy  would  raise  -towards  the  support 
of  a  missionary.  Also  to  this  end,  the  Presbytery  resolved  itself  into 
a  missionary  society,  auxiliary  to  the  Pennsylvania  Missionary 
Society ;  and  appointed  a  committee  to  superintend  the  missionary 
work  within  the  bounds  of  Presbytery,  and  correspond  with  the 
Pennsylvania  Society ;  and  procure  from  said  society  any  surplus 
funds  that  may  be  necessary  to  assist  Presbytery  in  building  up  and 
strengthening  the  feeble  congregations  within  their  bounds. 

Mr.  Joseph  B.  Adams  was  appointed  the  first  missionary,  in  accord-         / 
ance   with    the    above    arrangement,    under    the    direction    of    the 
committee  of  superintendence.     And  a  person  better  suited  to  mis- 
sionary service  could  not  have  been  found  within  the  bounds  of  the 
Presbytery,  if  within  the  limits  of  the  whole  church. 

At  the  Fall  meeting  of  1827,  a  Mr.  McCreary,  an  agent  of  the  Phil- 
adelphia Bible  Society,  was  introduced  to  Presbytery,  made  an  address, 
and  stated  the  purpose  of  the  society  to  endeavor  to  furnish  every 
destitute  family  in  the  State  with  a  copy  of  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
within  three  years,  or  sooner,  if  practicable.  After  which  address, 
the  following  resolution  was  unanimously  adopted  : 


90  HISTORY   OP   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

"  That  this  Presbytery  heartily  approves  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Phila- 
delphia Bible  Society  in  this  case,  and  will  endeavor  by  all  means  in  their 
power  to  assist  them." 

The  Rev.  William  Ramsey  was  at  this  time,  at  his  own  request, 
dismissed  to  connect  himself  with  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia. 

In  1826  the  ratio  of  representation  in  the  General  Assembly  was 
changed,  making  twelve  instead  of  nine  the  ratio  in  future,  with  the 
unanimous  approbation  of  the  Presbytery.  The  General  Assembly 
sent  down  an  overture  to  the  Presbyteries,  with  regard  to  a  proposed 
alteration  of  the  4th  Section  of  the  24th  Chapter  of  the  Confession  of 
Faith.  The  section  is  as  follows  (that  part  of  it  which  it  was  proposed 
to  alter,  if  the  Presbyteries  consented)  :  "  The  man  may  not  marry  any 
of  his  wife's  kindred  nearer  in  blood  than  he  may  of  his  own,  nor  the 
woman  of  her  husband's  kindred  nearer  in  blood  than  of  her  own." 
At  the  Spring  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  1827,  the  Presbytery 
decided  against  any  alteration  of  the  section  in  question.  As  a  Pres- 
bytery they  were  of  the  opinion  that  the  marriage  of  a  man  with  his 
deceased  wife's  sister  was  scripturally  unlawful,  and  therefore 
incestuous.  There  is  no  record  of  the  state  of  the  vote  in  the  Presby- 
tery, whether  unanimous,  or  otherwise.  We  suppose  that  if  the  same 
vote  were  taken  in  1872,  the  result  would  probably  be  the  same, 
though  there  might  be  some  division  of  views  on  the  subject.  The 
arguments  in  favor  of  such  marriages  are  generally  based  more  on 
expediency  than  on  the  Scriptures.  At  present,  Sessions,  Presbyte- 
ries, Synods,  and  the  General  Assembly,  are  very  willing  to  evade  the 
question,  if  possible.  Some  men  of  very  distinguished  character  for 
talents  and  piety,  having  entered  into  this  relation,  have  done  more 
to  embarrass  this  question  than  all  arguments  that  were  ever  pre- 
sented on  the  subject.  If  the  General  Assembly  has  never  given  any 
direct  decision  as  to  the  unlawfulness  of  such  marriages,  it  has  never 
ventured  to  reverse  any  censure  inflicted  by  the  inferior  courts  on 
persons  sustaining  such  relation.  It  is  not  proper  in  this  connection 
to  argue  the  question,  only  to  record  facts. 

Another  question,  pertaining  to  church  order  and  discipline,  was 
answered  by  the  Presbytery  in  the  Fall  of  1827,  namely  :  "  Is  it  not 
out  of  order,  and  prejudicial  to  the  interests  of  the  chureh,  for  one 
clergyman  to  baptize  children  belonging  to  the  charge  of  another, 
without  his  consent?"  whereupon  the  following  answer  was  returned, 
viz:  "That  Presbytery  consider  it  contrary  to  Presbyterial  order  for 
one  minister  to  baptize  the  children  of    parents  belonging  to   the 


HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBVTERT   OF    HUNTINGDON.  91 

congregation  of  another  minister,  without  the  consent  of  the  minis- 
ter or  session.'" 

There  is  not  much  to  record  in  regard  to  the  proceedings  of  the 
Presbytery  during  the  year  1828,  except  ordinary  business.  Calls  from 
Liverpool  and  Buffalo  congregations  were  presented  for  Mr.  James 
Fergus  Irvine,  each  for  one-half  of  his  time  at  the  Spring  meeting, 
and  he  was  ordained  and  installed  at  the  adjourned  meeting  in 
November  following.  Mr.  Irvine  was  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Philadelphia.  The  next  year  the  congregations  of  Liverpool  and 
Buffalo  requested  leave  to  petition  Synod  to  be  attached  to  the  Pres- 
bvtery  of  Carlisle,  with  their  pastor,  which  request  was  granted.  Mr. 
Joel  Stoneroad,  a  student  of  theology,  applied  for  testimonials  to  be 
presented  to  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  that  he  might  be  received 
as  a  candidate  on  trials  for  the  gospel  ministry.  His  request  was 
granted,  but  at  the  same  time  Presbytery  advised  him  to  put  himself 
under  the  care  of  this  Presbytery,  to  which  he  naturally  belongs. 

Presbytery  enjoined  on  its  members  and  the  congregations,  to  ob- 
served the  4th  Thursday  of  January,  1829,  as  a  day  of  fasting,  humilia- 
tion and  prayer,  as  enjoined  by  the  General  Assembly.  Also  to  preach 
on  the  subject  of  the  sanctification  of  the  Sabbath,  at  least  one  Sab- 
bath before  the  next  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery. 

The  year  1829  opens  with  the  record  of  the  death  of  Rev.  James  H. 
Stuart,  on  the  27th  of  February  preceding  the  meeting  of  the  Pres- 
bytery. 

An  appeal  from  a  decision  of  the  session  of  the  church  of  Sinking 
Valley,  was  laid  before  Presbytery  by  Mr.  Angus  Sinclair,  who  was 
convicted  and  suspended  from  the  communion  of  the  church  on  the 
charges  of  intoxication  and  profane  swearing.  The  decision  of  the 
session  was  affirmed  by  a  unanimous  vote.  The  Rev.  William  Stuart 
at  this  time  resigned  the  office  of  Treasurer  of  the  Presbytery,  and 
Mr.  Woods  was  appointed  in  his  place.  At  the  same  meeting  at 
which  the  judgment  of  the  session  of  Sinking  Valley  Church  was 
affirmed  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Sinclair,  Presbytery  passed  the  following 
resolution  in  regard  to  tenqjerance  : 

" Resolved,  That  this  Presbytery  approve  of  the  exertions  of  the  Ameri- 
can and  Pennsylvania  Temperance  Societies,  to  discourage  the  common  use 
of  ardent  spirits." 

And  this  was  not  all,  but  the  Presbytery  formed  themselves  sub- 
stantially into  a  temperance  society,  by  passing  or  adopting  the  addi- 
tional resolution : 


T 


r 


92  HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESBYTERY   OF   HUNTINGDON. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  members  of  this  Presbytery  pledge  themselves  to 
promote  the  cause  of  temperance,  by  a  total  abstinence  from  the  use  of 
ardent  spirits,  except  when  necessarj"  for  medicinal  purposes." 

This  resolution  was  not  adopted  by  the  Presbytery  any  too  soon. 
The  lamentable  instances  brought  to  the  direct  attention  of  the  Pres- 
bytery, requiring  the  exercise  of  solemn  acts  of  discipline,  demanded 
such  a  resolution  of  total  abstinence  from  the  common  use  of  ardent 
spirits.  It  will  be  observed  that  it  is  not  a  pledge  of  total  abstinence 
from  all  that  will  intoxicate ;  but  it  is  believed  to  be  as  extensive  a 
pledge  as  any  one  adopted  in  that  day.  No  temperance  organization, 
so  far  as  known,  had  gone  further  in  a  pledge  of  total  abstinence. 
Further,  we  believe  it  to  have  been  the  first  example  of  a  purely 
ecclesiastical  temperance  organization.  As,  perhaps,  no  ecclesiastical 
organization  had  more  reason  to  adopt  such  a  pledge,  none  had  gone 
to  the  same  extent  in  reformation,  or  struck  more  directly  at  the  root 
of  the  evil.  Notwithstanding  the  sad  falls  of  some  of  the  ministers 
that  had  belonged  to  the  Presbytery,  there  was,  from  the  organization 
of  the  Presbytery  a  noble  band  of  men  and  ministers,  who  by  precept 
and  example  testified  against  intemperance,  and  finally  excluded  the 
bottle  from  the  entertainments  provided  for  the  members,  at  the 
meetings  of  the  Presbytery.  If  it  were  necessary,  a  long  list  of  the 
venerable  fathers,  now  gone  to  their  rest  and  their  reward,  might  be 
given,  who  were  irrejjroachable  as  to  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors  ; 
and  at  times  when  they  were  in  common  use  among  the  members  of 
the  churches,  and  it  was  considered  no  reproach  to  use  intoxicating 
drinks,  if  not  used  to  great  excess.  We,  who  live  at  this  day,  .deserve 
no  credit  for  our  strictly  temperate  habits,  compared  with  those  men 
who  finally  drove  it  from  the  private  tables  of  church  members  and 
ecclesiastical  assemblies. 

The  years  1828  and  '29,  although  we  have  no  data  from  which  to 
tell  of  extensive  revivals  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery,  were 
prolific  of  candidates  for  the  gospel  ministry,  especially  the  last  named 
year.  In  April,  Mr.  George  D.  Porter  was  taken  under  the  care  of 
Presbytery  as  a  candidate;  and  in  October,  Messrs.  Samuel  Wilson. 
John  Fleming,  and  William  Reed.  All  these  lived  to  enter  the  min- 
istry, and  a  part  of  them  are  performing  good  service  till  this  day. 
Mr.  Wilson,  now  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wilson,  after  serving  a  congregation 
within  the  Presbytery  for  some  years  resigned  the  charge  on  account 
of  failing  health,  and  removed  to  a  field  of  labor  in  the  West. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  93 

John  Fleming  is  also  still  living  at  Earlville,  Illinois,  a  member  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Ottawa.  William  Reed  devoted  himself  to  the 
work  of  foreign  missions  in  Northern  India,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  of  which  Rev.  Dr.  Elisha 
.Swift  was  then  the  corresponding  secretary.  Presbytery  pledged 
itself  for  his  support  in  the  foreign  field ;  but  he  had  scarcely  entered 
upon  his  work,  if  he  had  entered  at  all,  till  he  was  cut  short  by  death, 
much  lamented  by  the  Presbytery  and  all  the  friends  of  missions. 

Rev.  George  D.  Porter  died  a  few  years  ago  the  pastor  of  a  church 
in  Iowa. 

The  last  record  of  the  doings  of  the  Presbytery  this  ecclesiastical 
year,  is  somewhat  remarkable.  We  give  the  record  as  found  in  the 
Minutes,  Vol.  II,  p.  51:  "The  clerk  was  directed  to  write  to  the 
Board  of  Missions  respecting  Mr.  Robert  Thompson,  who  had  been 
laboring  within  our  bounds,  requesting  that  he  be  not  reappointed  to 
our  bounds,  as  he  has  advanced  very  erroneous  sentiments  in  a  con- 
versation with  one  of  our  members."         # 

The  erroneous  sentiments  advanced  are  not  stated,  or  the  member 
of  Presbytery  to  whom  they  were  disclosed,  but  it  is  reasonable  to 
suppose  that  they  were  of  the  most  serious  character,  and  that  the 
Presbytery  had  full  confidence  in  the  correctness  of  the  report,  but  it 
may  be  doubted  whether  this  was  altogether  a  fair  course  to  pursue 
towards  the  brother.  Somehow  or  other  he  ought  to  have  had  an  op- 
portunity to  explain  his  views  before  the  Presbytery  openly.  He  was 
not  connected  with  the  Presbytery  otherwise  than  laboring  as  a 
missionary  within  their  bounds,  they  could  not  cite  him  to  appear, 
and  to  answer  to  formal  charges  of  heresy  presented  against  him,  but 
no  doubt  he  would  on  the  statement  of  charge  or  charges  made  to 
Presbytery,  have  voluntarily  appeared  and  admitted  the  facts,  or  en- 
deavored to  explain.  Perhaps  he  was  invited  to  meet  with  Presby- 
tery for  this  jjurpose,  and  declined  to  appear,  but  if  so  the  fact  ought 
to  have  been  recorded,  so  as  to  justify  the  action  of  Presbytery  in  his 
case.  "Doth  our  law  condemn  any  one  unheard ?"  Perhaps  there 
may  have  been  some  misunderstanding.  To  be  charged  with  teaching 
erroneous  sentiments  by  such  men  as  then  composed  the  Presbytery 
of  Huntingdon,  was  sufficient  to  fix  the  man's  character  as  to  ortho- 
doxy in  the  church  forever !  If  indeed  he  had  embraced  and  uttered 
erroneous  sentiments,  by  a  friendly  Christian  conference,  they  might 
have  been  the  means  of  recovering  him  out  of  the  snare  of  the  devil, 


94  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

and  have  "taught  him  the  way  of  Grod  more  perfectly."  Yet  their 
fidelity  in  endeavoring  to  protect  their  churches  from  the  propagators 
of  heresy  is  to  be  commended.  But  what  an  irreparable  injury  done 
to  the  young  man  (for  we  suppose  him  to  have  been  young)  if  there 
was  any  misapprehension,  or  mistake  in  regard  to  his  true  sentiments. 
We  think  a  better,  at  least,  a  safer  course  might  have  been  pursued, 
and  we  think  so  because  of  our  great  veneration  for  the  members  of 
Presbytery  then  acting. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  at  Little  Valley,  April  7,  1830, 
Mr.  Britton  E.  Collins,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia, 
was  received,  and  at  the  adjourned  meeting  in  June  following,  was 
ordained  an  Evangelist,  having  for  a  time  labored  and  being  expected 
to  continue  his  labors  in  a  destitute  portion  of  the  Presbytery.  In 
the  free  conversation  on  the  state  of  religion,  it  appeared  that  the 
purchase  and  sale  of  lottery  tickets  was  countenanced,  and  perhaps 
practised  by  members  of  the  church,  the  following  resolution  was 
adopted  by  the  Presbytery  : 

" Resolved,  That  Presbytery  consider  the  disposition  to  speculate  in  the 
sale  and  purchase  of  lottery  tickets,  a  species  of  gambling  much  to  be  de- 
pricated,  and  they  do  earnestly  warn  all  their  church  members  against 
encouraging  it  directly  or  indirectly,  and  they  further  urge  all  their  Ses- 
sions to  be  watchful  in  the  exercise  of  discipline  in  the  case." — Vol.  II,  p. 
52,  Minutes. 

At  the  fall  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  this  year,  the  Rev.  David 
McKinney  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  was  received  as  a  member  of  the 
Presbytery.  Calls  were  presented  by  the  congregations  of  Little' 
Valley  and  West  Kishacoquillas,  for  the  pastoral  services  of  the  Rev. 
William  Annan.  Mr.  Annan  had  been  supplying  these  congrega- 
tions for  some  time  previously,  but  not  having  obtained  his  dismis- 
sion from  the  Presbytery  of  Baltimore,  of  which  he  was  a  member, 
they  could  not  then  be  put  into  his  hand.  At  a  subsequent  meet- 
ing, he  having  received  his  certificate  of  dismission  from  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Baltimore,  was  received  and  installed  pastor  of  the  above 
congregations. 

Mr.  Joseph  B.  Adams,  a  licentiate,  being  employed  as  an  agent  of 
the  American  Sunday  School  Union,  requested  ordination  as  an  Evan- 
gelist, that  he  might  be  more  useful  and  efficient  in  his  work ;  the 
Presbytery  concurring  with  him  in  this  view  of  the  matter,  after  the 
usual  examinations  and  parts  of  trial,  proceeded  to  ordain  him  as  an 
Evangelist.     In  which  service  Dr.  McKinney  preached  the  Ordination 


HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF   HUNTINGDON.  95 

sermon  from  Ezek.  33 : 7,  8,  9,  and  Dr.  Woods  presided  and  proposed 
the  constitutional  questions,  and  gave  the  charge  to  the  Evangelist. 

This  ecclesiastical  year  closed  with  the  announcement  of  the  death 
of  the  Rev.  James  Thompson,  pastor  of  the  Alexandria  congregation, 
on  the  8th  of  October ;  and  steps  were  immediately  taken  to  reunite 
the  separate  parts  of  old  Hart's  Log  congregation.  In  a  former  part 
of  this  history  some  account  has  been  given  of  the  separation,  and 
the  causes  leading  thereto.  God  in  his  providence  removed  by  death 
the  Rev.  James  Thompson,  a  man  greatly  respected  by  his  brethren  of 
the  Presbytery,  and  beloved  by  his  congregatson ;  and  thus  the  way 
was  opened  for  the  reunion  of  the  people  of  Hart's  Log  and  Alexan- 
dria congregations.  The  Rev.  John  Peebles  was  then  pastor  of  Hun- 
tingdon and  Hart's  Log.  To  the  former  he  gave  two-thirds  of  his 
time,  and  to  the  latter  the  other  third.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
amiable,  excellent  and  godly  of  ministers,  beloved  by  all  who  knew 
him.  At  once,  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Thompson,  with  a  magnanimity 
and  self-abnegation,  which  has  few  parallels,  even  among  ministers,  in 
this  selfish  world,  he  proposed  to  his  congregation  to  unite  again  the 
severed  parts  of  old  Hart's  Log ;  and  to  this  end  announced  his  pur- 
pose to  resign  his  charge  of  Hart's  Log,  and  confine  his  labors 
altogether  to  Huntingdon,  at  the  sacrifice  of  one-third  of  his  salary. 
And,  further,  he  informed  the  congregation,  that  in  case  they  refused 
to  unite,  he  would  serve  them  no  longer  as  their  pastor.  The  people 
of  the  congregation  joined  with  him  in  the  application  for  the  dissolu- 
tion of  his  pastoral  relation ;  and  the  people  of  the  two  congregations 
were  immediately  reunited  under  the  style  and  title  of  Alexandria 
and  Hart's  Log  congregation. 

At.  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  April  5th,  1831,  a  call  was  pre- 
sented from  the  congregation  of  East  Kishacoquillas  for  Rev.  James 
Nourse,  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia.  Mr.  N.  was 
present,  by  invitation  sitting  as  a  corresponding  member;  but  not 
having  received  his  dismission  from  the.  Presbytery,  the  call  could  not 
be  put  into  his  hands  at  that  meeting,  therefore  an  adjourned  meeting 
was  appointed  to  be  held  at  East  Kishacoquillas,  on  the  2d  Wednes- 
day of  June,  for  the  purpose  of  recei\fing  Mr.  Nourse,  and  installing 
him,  if  the  way  should  be  clear.  At  the  adjourned  meeting,  Mr.  N. 
presented  to  Presbytery  a  certificate  of  dismission,  and  of  good  stand- 
ing, from  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  to  connect  himself  with  this 
Presbytery ;  and  he  was  received  without  objection  from  any  member 


T> 


96  HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESBYTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON. 

of  the  Presbytery,  so  far  as  appears  from  the  records.  But  upon  the 
motion  to  put  the  call  into  his  hands,  considerable  discussion  arose, 
from  a  suspicion  that  Mr.  Nourse  endorsed  the  objectionable  doctrinal 
statements  of  Rev.  Albert  Barnes,  in  a  published  sermon  of  his 
entitled  uT7ie  Way  of  Salvation."  The  whole  case  is  stated  very  plainly, 
but  suscinctly,  in  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery,  which  we  copy  ver- 
batim, as  follows  : 

"The  Presbytery  then  proceeded  to  the  main  design  of  their  meeting, 
namely,  the  call  to  Mr.  Nourse  and  his  installation.  The  question  being 
under  consideration  whether  the  call  should  be  put  into  his  hands,  a  copy 
of  the  sermon  on  the  way  of  salvation,  by  the  Rev.  Albert  Barnes,  was 
laid  before  Presbytery  by  a  member  of  the  congregation.  This  sermon  Mr. 
Nourse  had  sent  to  a  member  of  the  Session  some  time  previously,  with  a 
note  written  on  it  with  his  own  hand  respecting  the  contents  of  the  sermon. 
Some  of  the  congregation  inferred  from  it  that  he  had  embraced  all  the 
sentiments  expressed  in  the  sermon,  and  in  this  case  they  object  to  receiving 
him  as  their  minister.     The  note  was  in  the  following  words : 

1  This  is  the  celebrated  discourse,  which  has  caused  so  great  discussion  in 
the  Philadelphia  Presbytery  and  elsewhere.  There  are  some  things  in  it 
exceptionable,  but  the  main  statement  of  facts  is  correct,  the  mode  of  illus- 
tration incorrect.     It  can  do  you  no  harm. — J.  N.'  " 

The  Presbytery  proposed  to  put  some  questions  to  him  on  the  sub- 
jects noticed  in  the  sermon.  To  this,  he  said  he  acceded,  as  a  matter 
of  courtesy,  not  that  he  considered  Presbytery  as  having  a  right  to 
pursue  such  a  course.  Reference  was  then  had  to  what  Presbytery 
considered  the  most  objectionably  parts  of  the  sermon,  such  as  the 
doctrine  of  imputation,  and  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  atonement,  and  he 
gave  such  answers  as  were  satisfactory  to  Presbytery.  The  vote  was 
then  taken  on  the  question  of  putting  the  call  into  his  hands,  and  was 
decided  in  the  affirmative.  The  congregation  offering  no  objections, 
after  the  explanations  given  by  Mr.  Nourse  ;  the  call  was  put  into  his 
hands,  and  he  declared  his  acceptance  of  it.  Presbytery  then  pro- 
ceeded to  his  installation.  Mr.  Hill  preached  a  sermon  from  Rev.  3, 
1  verse.  Dr.  Linn  presided,  proposed  the  constitutional  questions, 
and  gave  the  charge  to  pastos  and  people/' — Min.  Vol.  II,  p.  p.  68, 
69  and  70. 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  October  of  this  year, 
three  elders  only  being  present  and  one  of  these  being  of  the  church 
in  which  the  meeting  was  held,  the  following  resolution  was  passed : 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  '.»7 

"  The  Presbytery  having  observed  with  deep  regret  that  so  few  members 

of  Session  attend  the  meetings  of  the  judicatories  of  the  church,  and  being 
desirous  of  securing,  if  possible,  a  more  full  representation  ; 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  congregations  under  our  care 
to  bear  the  necessary  expenses  of  the  elders  regularly  appointed  to  attend 
the  meetings  of  Presbytery  and  Synod.'' 

At  the  same  meeting  Presbytery  adopted  the  following  resolution 
in  regard  to  the  obserYanee  of  the  Sabbath  : 

"Resolved,  That  from  a  consideration  of  the  manner  in  which  the  Lord's 
Day  is  violated  by  the  community  generally,  Presbytery  recommended  to 
all  their  members  to  preach  on  the  subject  of  the  Sabbath,  on  the  last 
Lord's  Day  of  the  present  year." 


CHAPTER  VI. 


FROM  1832  TO  1838. 

Controversy  between  the  New  and  Old  Schools  Beginning — Paper  Introduced  by  Mr.  Hutcheson 
— Pastoral  Letter  to  the  Churches — Paper  Adopted  on  the  Subject  of  Temperance — Mis- 
sionary Affairs — Mr.  William  Reed  Ordained — Synodical  Representation  in  the  Assembly — 
Can  Members  Voluntarily  Renounce  their  Church  Membership — Constitutional  Kule — Mr. 
Nourse  and  the  Session  of  East  Kishacoquillas — The  Origin  of  the  Board  of  Publication — 
Standing  Rule  in  Regard  to  a  Presbyterial  Missionary  Sermon — Yellow  Creek — Mr.  G.  D. 
Porter  Ordained  an  Evangelist — M.  B.  Hope  and  J.  W.  Coulter  Licensed — The  Deatii  of  Mr. 
Coulter — Rev.  David  Sterritt — Rev.  W.  Stuart  and  Rev.  G.  Bishop  Resign  their  Charges — 
Death  of  Rev.  John  Coulter — Resolutions  on  the  Board  of  Education — Rev.  John  Hutche- 
son, S.  C. — The  Act  and  Testimony  in  the  Presbytery — Pine  Grove  Church  Organized — Com- 
mittee on  Catechetical  Instruction  and  Family  Religion — Rev.  James  Galbraith's  Pastoral 
Relation  Dissolved — Rev.  D.  McKinney  and  Rev.  J.  Nourse  Receive  Calls — Rev.  Jas.  M.  01m- 
stead — Death  of  Rev.  William  Reed — Rev.  Joshua  Moore  Called  and  Installed— The  Rev. 
McK.  Williamson  Called — Pittsburgh  Convention — Report  of  Committee  on  the  Minutes  of 
the  General  Assembly — Unusual  Case — 1837,  the  year  before  the  Great  Division — Variety 
and  Importance  of  the  Business  Transacted — Committee  on  Traveling  Ministers  and  Licen- 
tiates— Committee  on  the  Minutes  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1837  Report — Order  in  Re- 
gard to  Private  Members  Removing  without  Certificates. 

PRESBYTERY  met   in  the   Spring  of  1832  at  Waynesburg,   (Mc- 
Veytown.)    Mr.  Annan  laid  before  Presbytery  a  resolution  of  the 
Session  of  West  Kishacoquillas  congregation,  as  follows  : 

" Resolved,  That  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  be,  and  they  hereby  are 
respectfully  requested,  to  express  their  opinion  respecting  the  proceedings 
of  Session  in  the  above  case  of  discipline,  against  church  members  attend- 
ing dancing  assemblies." 

"  The  minutes  of  the  proceedings  of  Session  were  then  read,  and  Presby- 
tery having  considered  the  case  did  express  their  decided  opinion,  that  they 
highly  approve  the  determination  of  said  Session  to  exercise  the  discipline 
of  the  church  on  their  members  who  are  disposed  to  indulge  in  attending 
on  fashionable  amusements." — Min.  Vol.  II,  p.  77. 

In  regard  to  the  case  of  discipline  referred  to  in  the  above  reference 
from  the  Session  of  West  Kishacoquillas  church,  a  complaint  was  pre- 
sented from  the  Session  of  Waynesburg  church  against  the  Session  of 
West  Keshacoquillas  church,  not  calling  in  question  the  propriety  or 
justice  of  their  act  of  discipline  in  the  case,  but  their  authority  to 
exercise   discipline   in   regard  to   the    subject    of   it.     Tb<-    Session    of 


HISTORY.   OF   THK    PRESBYTERV    OF    HUNTINGDON.  99 

Waynesburg,  claimed  the  subject  of  the  discipline  as  being  a  member 
of  their  church,  under  their  care  and  subject  alone  to  their  authority. 
The  facts  were  as  follows.  Mr.  A.  Oliver  had  three  years  before  re- 
moved within  the  bounds  of  the  congregation  of  West  Kishacoquillas. 
but  had  never  received,  or  asked  for  a  certificate  of  membership  or 
dismission  from  the  Session  of  Waynesburg  church,  but  had  taken  a 
pew,  communed  with  and  exercised  an  office  of  sonie  sort  (not  stated) 
in  the  West  Kishacoquillas  congregation.  But  the  Session  of  Waynes- 
burg  still  retained  his  name  upon  the  roll  of  their  members,  and  had 
actually  dealt  with  him  for  a  similar  offense,  one  year  previously, 
to  the  case  coming  before  Presbytery.  At  first  a  motion  was  made 
not  to  sustain  the  complaint.  This  motion  was  negatived  by  a  vote  of 
five  in  the  affirmative,  and  eight  in  the  negative.  Afterwards,  the 
case  was  committed  to  a  special  committee  of  two,  (one  of  whom  had 
voted  to  dismiss  the  complaint,  and  the  other  to  sustain  it,)  to  bring 
in  a  minute  expressive  of  the  views  of  Presbytery  in  the  case.  As 
the  matter  involved  is  of  constant  practical  importance,  the  report  of 
the  special  committee  is  copied  in  full,  as  follows : 

illst  Resolved,  That  in  view  of  this  Presbytery  the  Session  of  the  church 
of  West  Kishacoquillas  had  strong  reasons  for  supposing  that  Mr.  A.  W. 
Oliver  was  under  their  watch  and  care  from  these  facts :  Mr.  Oliver 
had  resided  three  years  in  their  bounds,  held  a  pew  and  exercised  an  office 
in  the  congregation,  had  regularly  communed  with  the  church,  and  when 
admonished  and  finally  brought  to  trial,  did  not  plead  his  connection  with 
another  church.  But  still  the  Session  of  the  church  of  Waynesburg,  hav- 
ing never  dismissed  Mr.  Oliver,  and  having  still  exercised  a  watchful  can' 
over  him,  Presbytery  still  consider  him  as  belonging  to  the  church  of 
Waynesburg. 

Resolved  further,  That  in  view  of  the  above  case,  Presbytery  consider  it 
a  matter  of  great  importance  that  church  Sessions  be  careful  always  t" 
give  and. demand  written  certificates  of  regular  dismission  of  church  mem- 
bers leaving  their  bounds,  or  removing  (coming)  within  their  bounds, 
respectively,  and  that  in  neighboring  congregations,  where  change  of  resi- 
dence and  intercommunion  are  very  common,  church  Sessions  should  be 
careful  to  let  each  other  know  whom  they  claim  as  under  their  watch  am! 
care,  and  especially  to  communicate  any  information  which  may  tend  t" 
the  harmony  and  purity  of  the  church." 

We  have  now  come. to  that  point  in  the  history  of  the  Presbytery, 
when  the  troubles  and  the  conflicts  between  the  New  and  the  Old 
Scliool  began  to  effect  the  Presbyteries  in  Central  Pennsylvania.  The 
storm  had  been  gathering  for  some  years  previous,  and  the  first  break- 
ing forth  of  it  had  fallen  upon  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia.     The 


100  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

publication  of  the  sermon  of  Mr.  Barnes,  on  "  The  Way  of  Salvation,' ' 
and  his  call  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia, 
which  necessitated  his  application  to  be  received  as  a  member  of  that 
Presbytery,  was  the  occasion  of  drawing  the  line  of  demarcation 
between  the  friends  and  the  opposers  of  the  New  Theology,  and  their 
sympathizers.  There  was  not  in  the  Presbytery  ot  Huntingdon  one 
minister  who  embraced  the  views,  or  what  were  believed  to  be  the 
views,  of  the  leaders  of  the  New  School,  or  even  sympathized  with 
them,  on  the  supposition  that  they  held  the  errors  that  were  attrib- 
uted to  them.  But  there  were  some  who  were  slow  to  believe  that 
any  considerable  number  of  the  ministers  or  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  embraced  views  radically  in  conflict  with  the  standards 
of  the  church.  But  suspicions  were  abroad,  and  for  the  purpose  of 
sustaining  and  encouraging  the  decided  friends  of  the  standards,  as 
well  as  showing  their  own  sentiments,  and  as  a  protection  against 
future  contingencies,  the  following  paper  was  brought  before  Presby- 
tery by  the  Rev.  John  Hutcheson  of  Mifflintown. 

"  Whereas,  The  present  perturbed  state  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
renders  it  necessary  that  great  care  and  watchfulness  be  exercised  by  the 
officers  of  the  church,  and  by  all  who  desire  the  peace  and  prosperity  of 
Zion  ;  Whereas,  this  Presbytery  deem  it  important  in  the  present  alarming 
crisis  of  our  ecclesiastic  affairs,  to  adopt  every  precautionary  measure  to 
prevent  the  introduction  and  spread  of  erroneous  doctrines  in  this  section 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church;.  And  whereas,  the  great  end  and  design  of 
church  government  is  to  promote  the  purity,  peace,  and  prosperity  of  the 
church  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  1st.  That  this  Presbytery  consider  it  an  imperious  duty  to  em- 
ploy ecclesiastic  government  for  the  purpose  of  preserving  the  purity, 
peace,  and  prosperity  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  while  they  fervently 
supplicate  the  blessings  of  Zion's  King  to  render  their  efforts  successful. 

Resolved,  2d.  That  this  Presbytery  claim  the  right,  and  consider  them- 
selves invested  with  authority  by  the  constitution  of  the  church,  to  examine 
ordained  ministers,  coming  from  another  Presbytery  to  settle  within  their 
bounds. 

Resolved,  3d.  That  this  Presbytery  cordially  approve  the  government  ot' 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  Confession  of  Faith,  and  the  Larger  and 
Shorter  Catechisms,  which  in  their  view  contain  the  doctrines  of  the 
Bible." 

Immediately  after  the  adoption  of  the  above,  Mr.  Coulter,  from  a 
committee  appointed  for  that  purpose,  read  a  pastoral  letter  to  the 
churches,  which  was  approved  and  committed  to  Mr.  Hutchesox  to  be 
published,   and   sent   to   the    ministers,   and    to    the    sessions    of   the 


HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  .        101 

vacant  congregations  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery.  The  pas- 
toral letter  may  be  supposed  to  have  relation  principally  to  troubles 
and  controversies  by  which  the  church  was  now  agitated.  There  were 
present  at  the  Presbytery  by  which  the  above  resolutions  were  adopt- 
ed, eleven  ministers  and  nine  elders;  one  minister  and  one  elder  had 
left  before  the  resolutions  were  presented.  They  appear  to  have 
been  adopted  by  a  unanimous  vote,  at  least  no  negative  is  recorded. 
Four  ministers  belonging  to  the  Presbytery  were  absent,  but  had  they 
been  present  it  would  only  have  strengthened  the  vote. 

Thus  early  the  Presbytery  deemed  it  necessary  to  show  on  which 
side  they  would  be  found  in  the  fierce  doctrinal  controversies  that 
were  then  raging  in  other  parts  of  the  church,  and  finally  resulted  in 
the  division.  There  was  no  ordained  minister  in  the  Presbytery  that 
went  with  the  New  School  division,  and  no  organized  congregation 
within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery,  till  after  the  division  had  actual- 
ly taken  place,  and  then  only  two  very  small  congregations  were 
gathered  out  of  two  large  congregations  in  Centre  county,  which  were 
never  able  to  support  a  pastor  without  help  from  abroad  after  their 
organization. 

At  the  meeting  of  Presbytery  in  the  Fall  of  this  year,  (1832,)  the 
Rev.  Alexander  McKeehan  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Carlisle,  Mr.  Samuel  Wilson,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery,  received  / 
a  call  from  Alexandria  and  Hart's  Log  congregation,  and  was  ordained 
and  installed  pastor  on  the  second  Wednesday  of  November.  Rev. 
P>.  E.  Collins  was  called  to  Millerstown,  and  Messrs.  Woods  and 
Nourse  were  appointed  a  committee  to  install  him. 

Messrs.  James  W.  Coulter  and  Matthew  B.  Hope,  were  received 
under  the  care  of  Presbytery  as  candidates  for  the  ministry,  and 
Messrs.  J.  Fleming,  G.  I).  Porter  and  William  Reed,  were  licensed 
to  preach  the  gospel.  Mr.  Fleming  having  offered  himself  to  the 
American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  to  go  as  a 
missionary  among  the  Creek  Indians,  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  be- 
ing accepted,  Presbytery  ordained  him  in  view  of  his  mission  at  an 
adjourned  meeting  held  at  Lewistown,  on  the  24th  of  October. 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  October  3,  Mr.  Noursk 
offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was  unanimously  adopted: 

•;  WHEREAS,  intemperance  is  a  great  and  deplorable  evil,  and  efforts  have 
already  been  extensively  made  by  good  men  to  correct  it;  Ami  vjhereas,  the 
practice  of  distilling  is  the  prime  cause  of  this  grievous  curse,  and  the  Gen- 


102  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

eral  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  has  already  expressed  its  decided 
disapprobation  of  such  a  practice  ;  therefore,  it  is  by  this  Presbytery 

Resolved,  That  we  will  hereafter  consider  it  an  act  of  immorality  in  any 
elder  or  member  of  the  church,  under  our  care,  to  continue  in  this  practice, 
or  to  distribute  distilled  spirits  for  a  drink." 

A  special  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  was  held  at  Lewistown. 
Januay  9,  1833,  at  the  call  of  the  moderator.  The  object  kwas  to 
consult  about  missionary  affairs,  particularly  foreign  missions.  A  very 
considerable  missionary  zeal  had  been  aroused  throughout  the  Presby- 
tery, by  the  fact  that  three  young  men,  licensed  by  the  presbytery 
and  reared  within  its  bounds,  were  about  to  go  forth  as  foreign 
missionaries,  viz :  Messrs.  Reed,  Fleming  and  Hope.  After  consulta- 
tion, and  much  deliberation,  the  following  paper  was  introduced  and 
adopted  : 

"  Whereas,  from  the  spirit  manifested  by  the  different  congregations 
that  have  been  consulted  on  the  subject,  it  appears  that  there  is  a  willing- 
ness to  engage  in  this  labor  of  love,  this  Presbytery  considers  itself 
warranted  to  assume  the  responsibility  of  supporting  one  missionary  in  a 
foreign  land ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  in  reliance  on  divine  aid,  and  on  the  liberality  of  tin- 
churches  under  our  care,  we  do  now  assume  the  expense  of  supporting  Mr. 
William  Reed  as  a  missionary  in  a  foreign  land,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society." 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  held  in  April  following. 
the  Presbytery  made  arrangements  for  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Reed  ; 
which  took  place  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  held  in  the  church  of  East 
Kishacoquillas,  on  the  1st  of  May  following.  In  which  service  Mr. 
Coulter  preached  from  2  Cor.  5:20;  Mr.  Linn  presided  and  gave  the 
charge ;  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  E.  P.  Swift,  corresponding  secretary  of  the 
Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  being  present,  addressed  the 
congregation  on  the  importance  of  the  missionary  cause,  and  the  duty 
of  christians  in  relation  to  it. 

In  this  year  an  overture  was  sent  down  to  the  Presbyteries  with 
regard  to  the  mode  and  ratio  of  representation  in  the  Assembly.  It 
seems  that  so  early  the  change  from  presbyterial  representation  to 
synodical  was  agitated.  The  Presbytery  were  then  unanimous  in 
opposition  to  synodical  representation.  The  change  then  proposed. 
continued  to  be  agitated  from  time  to  time  up  to  the  present  time,  and 
was  proposed  in  the  report  of  a  committee  to  the  late  General  Assem- 
bly.    It  has  never  met  with  any  general  favor  from  the  Presbyteries. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  103 

4 

But  at  the  time  above  referred  to  the  ratio  of  represention  by  Presby- 
teries was  adopted,  which  has  continued  up  to  the  present  time. 

At  this  session  of  the  Presbytery,  (April,  1833,)  Mr.  Annan,  in 
behalf  of  the  session  of  West  Kishacoquillas,  desired  to  have  the 
explicit  views  of  the  Presbytery  on  the  question  :  "  Whether  persons 
are  to  be  considered  members  of  the  church,  and  subject  to  her  watch- 
ful care  and  discipline,  notwithstanding  their  neglect  of  gospel  ordi- 
dances,  and  their  declarations  that  they  have  withdrawn?" 

Presbytery  were  unanimously  of  the  opinion,  that  the  connection 
of  church  members  is  not  dissolved  merely  by  absenting  themselves 
from  public  worship,  and  saying  that  they  had  withdrawn ;  nor  can  it 
in  ordinary  cases  be  dissolved,  without  the  consent  of  the  session ; 
and  Presbytery  further  give  it  as  their  opinion,  that  habitual  neglect 
to  attend  upon  the  ordinances  of  the  gospel  without  good  reason, 
subjects  such  persons  to  the  special  cognizance  and  discipline  of  the 
church. 

The  following  constitutional  rule  sent  down  by  the  General  Assem- 
bly to  the  Presbytery  for  their  consideration,  was  at  this  time  taken 
up  and  unanimously  adopted  by  the  Presbytery,  viz : 

"  When  any  emergency  shall  require  a  meeting  of  Synod  sooner  than  the 
time  to  which  it  stands  adjourned,  the  moderator,  or  in  case  of  his  absence 
or  inability  to  act,  the  stated  clerk  shall,  with  the  concurrence  or  at  the 
request  of  three  ministers  and  three  elders, — the  ministers  and  elders  being 
at  least  of  two  different  Presbyteries, — call  a  special  meeting.  For  this 
purpose  he  shall  send  a  circular  letter,  specifying  the  particular  business  of 
the  intended  meeting  to  every  minister  belonging  to  the  Synod,  and  to  the 
session  (if  practicable)  of  every  vacant  congregation,  and  between  the  time 
of  issuing  the  letters  of  convocation  and  the  time  of  meeting  shall  elapse 
at  least  twenty  days,  and  nothing  shall-  be  transacted  at  such  special  meet- 
ing besides  the  particular  business  for  which  the  judicatory  has  been  con- 
vened. It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  moderator  to  cause  notice  to  be  given 
in  the  public  prints,  of  the  time  and  place  of  such  intended  meeting." 

In  this  year  commenced  troubles  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
East  Kishacoquillas,  at  least  so  far  as  the  Presbytery  had  to  deal  with 
them.  The  troubles  in  that  congregation  came  first  before  Presby- 
tery by  a  complaint  made  to  Presbytery  against  a  decision  of  a  ma- 
jority of  the  session,  by  the  Rev.  James  Noxjrse,  the  pastor  of  the 
church.  The  controversy  between  Mr.  Nourse  and  the  majority  of 
the  congregation  was  long  continued,  and  occasioned  several  meetings 
of  the  Presbytery  and  committees  of  the  Presbytery,  before  it  was 
finally  quieted  by  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Nourse  and  the  division  of 


104  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUXTIXGDOX. 

the  congregation,  and  the  organization  of  the  friends  of  Mr.  N.  into  a 
congregation  to  be  called  the  church  of  Perry ville,  (now  Milroy,)  by 
which  Mr.  N.  was  called  to  be  pastor,  over  which  he  was  installed  and 
which  he  served  many  years  afterwards.  A  more  particular  account 
of  this  unhappy  controversy  would  neither  be  for  the  honor  of  religion 
or  the  glory  of  God.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  Mr.  Nourse's  advanced 
ideas  on  the  subject  of  temperance  are  believed  to  have  been  at  the 
bottom  of  this  quarrel.  Not  that  Mr.  Nourse's  views  were  more  ad- 
vanced on  the  subject  of  temperance  than  the  majority  of  his  brethren 
of  the  Presbytery,  but  he  was  a  much  more  impulsive  man  than  his 
brethren,  and  he  was  unfortunate  in  coming  more  immediately  in 
contact  with  manufacturers  and  dealers  in  intoxicating  liquors,  than 
most  of  his  brethren.  Kishacoquillas  is  a  very  productive  valley,  rich 
then  as  now,  in  corn,  rye,  wheat,  and  barley.  Temperance  had  not 
taken  such  a  hold  of  the  consciences  of  christians  then  as  in  later 
days.  There  is  much  to  be  said  by  way  of  apology,  both  for  Mr. 
Nourse  and  the  people.  Mr.  Nourse,  though  believed  by  his  brethren 
to  be  sufficiently  orthodox,  according  to  the  Confession  of  Faith,  yet 
seems  not  to  have  been  always  careful  and  definite  in  the  statement 
of  his  doctrinal  views  from  the  pulpit,  and  therefore  incurred  the 
suspicion  of  sympathy  with  errors  that  were  then  believed  to  be 
spreading  throughout  the  church.  This  diminished  his  power  to  con- 
tend against  a  real  and  great  practical  evil,  admitted  to  be  so  by  all  his 
brethren,. and  for  his  opposition  to  which  they' all  sympathized  with 
him.  Though  Mr.  Nourse  always  denied  that  he  held  any  sentiments 
contrary  to  the  Confession  of  Faith,  yet  it  was  often  necessary  for  him 
to  explain,  and  his  brethren  always  accepted  his  explanations  :  his 
opponents  in  his  congregation  were  not  so  willing  to  be  satisfied.  He 
unfortunately  came  into  the  Presbytery  and  into  charge  of  the  con- 
gregation under  suspicion  of  heresy,  for  his  honest  but  uncalled  for 
commendation  in  part,  of  Mr.  Barnes  sermon  on  "  The  Way  of  Sal- 
vation." 

This  ecclesiastical  year  of  1833  was  filled  up  with  many  important 
items  of  business  by  the  Presbytery,  some  not  very  agreeable,  others 
very  pleasant.  The  first  item  of  business,  that  is  of  any  importance 
to  note  as  occurring  at  the  stated  meeting  in  the  Fall,  is  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  committee  to  prepare  a  memorial  to  the  Synod  on  the  sub- 
ject of  the  formation'  of  a  Presbyterian  Tract  Society.  This  is  the 
origin  of  the  present  Board  of  Publication,  which  has  accomplished  so 
much  irood  to  the  church,  and  is  still  working  so  efficiently  in  spread- 


HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  105 

ing  abroad  a  sacred  literature,  which  is  always  to  be  relied  on  as  teach- 
ing the  unadulterated  doctrines  and  precepts  of  the  gospel.  The 
subject  had  been  discussed  in  the  religious  press  of  the  church,  and 
by  individual  writers  no  doubt  before  this  time,  but  this  is  believed  to 
be  the  first  ecclesiastical  action  on  the  subject,  and  so  ought  not  to  be 
overlooked  to  the  honor  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon.  It  is 
certain  that  the  old  Synod  of  Philadelphia  had  taken  no  formal 
action  on  the  subject  up  to  this  time,  and  if  not,  then  no  other  Synod 
had  moved  in  the  matter.  The  old  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  the 
Mother  of  Presbyteries  and  Synods,  did  then  indeed,  lead  the  way  in 
the  great  controversies  that  then  agitated  the  church,  but  we  are  not 
aware  that  they  had  then  taken  any  formal  action  on  the  subject  of 
forming  a  Presbyterian  Tract  Society.  We  claim  the  honor  for  the 
Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  till  otherwise  informed. 

At  the  same  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  the  following  standing  rule 
was  adopted,  which  has  been  observed  ever  since,  viz : 

"Resolved,  That  it  be  a  standing  rule  of  Presbytery  to  have  a  missionary 
sermon  preached  at  every  stated  meeting.'' 

A  collection  is  always  taken  up  after  the  sermon,  and  divided 
equally  between  the  Boards  of  Home  and  Foreign  Missions.  The 
appointment  of  a  preacher  is  made  at  the  previous  meeting,  and  the 
Rev.  William  Annan,  pastor  of  West  Kishacoquillas  church,  was  the 
first  appointment  to  preach  the  sermon  after  the  establishment  of  the 
rule. 

The  authority  was  given  at  this  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  for  the 
organization  of  the  church  at  Yellow  Creek,  Bedford  county,  and  Mr. 
Geo.  D.  Porter,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery,  who  had  been  mission- 
ating  in  that  region,  and  who  intended  to  continue  for  some  time,  was 
ordained  as  an  Evangelist.  Messrs.  James  W.  Coulter  and  Matthew 
B.  Hope  were  licensed.  The  death  of  the  former,  after  a  short  illness, 
is  noticed  on  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery,  a  little  less  than  two 
months  after  his  licensure,  and  appropriate  resolutions  passed  to  his 
memory.  • 

1834,  stated  spring  meeting. 

The  Rev.  David  Sterrett's  name  first  appears  on  the  minutes  of 
Presbytery  by  the  presentation  of  a  certificate  of  dismission  from  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  and  request  to  be  received  into  this  Presby- 
tery. At  the  same  time  a  call  for  his  pastoral  services,  by  Shaver's 
Creek  congregation,   was  laid  before  Presbytery,  and  being  found  in 

14 

'- 


106  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

order,  put  into  his  hands,  accepted,  and  a  committee  appointed  to 
install  him  pastor,  on  the  30th  day  of  May  following. 

The  pastoral  relation  of  Rev.  William  Stuart  to  Spring  Creek  and 
Sinking  Creek  congregations  was  dissolved  at  his  own  request,  on 
account  of  age  and  infirmities.  Mr.  Stuart  was  the  oldest  member  in 
the  Presbytery.  At  the  same  session  of  the  Presbytery  the  pastoral 
relation  of  Rev.  Garry  Bishop  to  the  congregations  of  Pike  (Curwens- 
ville)  and  Clearfield  was,  at  his  own  request,  dissolved,  and  he 
obtained  permission  to  travel  during  the  Summer  without  the  bounds 
of  Presbytery. 

Mr.  Thomas  J.  Keating,  a  member  of  Shaver's  Creek  or  Alexandria 
church,  a  convert  from  the  Roman  Catholic  faith,  having  expressed  a 
strong  desire  heretofore  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  for  this  end  re- 
quested to  be  taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  at  this  time  renewed 
his  request,  and  was  taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  as  a  candi- 
date for  the  ministry. 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  in  the  Fall  of  1834,  the 
first  matter  of  record  was  the  death  of  the  Rev.  John  Coulter,  as 
follows : 

"  The  Presbytery  record  with  unfeigned  sensibility,  though  with  humble 
acquiescence,  the  recent  afflictive  dispensation  of  Divine  Providence  in  the 
removal  by  death  of  the  Rev.  John  Coulter,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
efficient  of  our  members.  His  death  occurred  on  the  22d  of  June,  1834. 
While  we  mourn  his  removal  from  his  earthly  sphere  of  most  exemplary 
activity  and  usefulness,  we  would  faithfully  cherish  in  our  memory  his 
many  virtues  ;  especially  his  uncommon  punctuality,  and  his  prudence  as  a 
member  of  ecclesiastical  judicatories,  and  entertain  the  pleasing  hope  that 
he  now  rests  from  his  labors,  and  that  his  works  do  follow  him  to  the  Sanc- 
tuary above." 

On  November  26,  1833,  the  Presbytery  was  called  upon  to  record 
the  death  of  James  W.  Coulter,  a  licentiate;  and  on  October  7,  1834, 
the  death  of  his  venerable  father,  as  above. 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Mahon,  an  agent  of  the  Board  of  Education,  being 
present,  addressed  the  Presbytery ;  after  which  the  fallowing  resolu- 
tions were  adopted,  viz : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Presbytery,  cordially  approving  of  the  design  and 
plan  of  operations  of  the  Assembly's  Board  of  Education,  rejoicing  in  the 
number  of  pious,  but  poor  young  men  of  talents,  who  offer  themselves  to 
the  service  of  the  Church  ;  and  believing  it  to  be  the  duty  of  the  Church  to 
educate  her  own  youth,  and  to  prepare  and  send  forth  her  ambassadors,  do 
hereby  earnestly  recommend  to  the  churches  under  their  care,  to  make  .•: 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  107 

vigorous  and  persevering  effort  to  aid  in  relieving  the  Board  from  its  pecu- 
niary embarrassments. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  and  hereby  is  enjoined  on  all  the  members  of  Pres- 
bytery, to  aid  in  the  cause  by  every  prudent  means  in  their  power  consis- 
tent with  incumbent  duties." 

The  Rev.  John  Hutcheson  was  at  this  time  elected  stated  clerk,  in 
place  of  Mr.  Coulter,  deceased. 

Action  of  the  Presbytery  in  regard  to  the  Act  and  Testimony. 
adopted  and  issued  by  a  minority  of  the  members,  and  others  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  1834. 

In  the  Assembly  of  1834,  that  portion  of  the  church  which  was 
afterwards  called  "  The  New  School,"  were  in  a  majority.  Such  was 
their  action  in  all  the  matters  of  controversy  in  regard  to  doctrines 
and  measures  as  greatly  to  alarm  the  minority,  and  those  who  agreed 
with  them  as  to  the  integrity  of  the  fundamental  doctrines  and  order 
of  the  church.  Immediately  after  the  close  of  the  General  Assembly. 
a  meeting  of  the  minority,  and  other  ministers  and  elders  who  hap- 
pened be  present,  was  called  for  the  purpose  of  consultation,  as  to  the 
present  condition  of  the  church.  The  result  of  the  impromptu  conven- 
tion, was  the  adoption  of  a  certain  paper,  called  "  The  Act  and  Testi- 
mony." The  purport  of  this  paper  was  a  testimony  against  errors, 
enumerated  contrary  to  the  doctrines  of  the  Confession,  Faith,  and 
Catechisms,  then  believed  to  be  rapidly  spreading  throughout  the 
limits  of  the  church,  and  also  to  testify  in  behalf  of  the  truths  to 
which  these  errors  stood  opposed,  with  a  pledge  to  maintain  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Confession,  and  oppose  by  all  proper  and  appropriate 
means  the  errors  enumerated.  This  paper  was  sent  or  carried  down 
to  the  Presbyteries  for  their  action.  In  the  Presbytery  of  Hunting- 
don there  was  some  diversity  of  opinion  in  regard  to  the  adoption  of 
the  Act  and  Testimony,  but  none  affecting  the  soundness  in  the  faith 
of  the  brethren  on  the  one  side  or  the  other.  The  paper  was  adopted 
by  a  large  majority,  and  when  the  division  occurred  four  years  after- 
wards, not  one  of  the  minority  went  with  the  New  School.  We  have 
reason  to  know  that  before  the  division  took  place  the  minority  were 
fully  prepared  to  adopt  the  Act  and  Testimony.  It  was  not  because 
they  sympathized  with  the  errors  enumerated  in  the  document,  but 
they  could  not  believe  that  they  were  so  extensively  spread  among 
the  ministers  of  the  church,  as  the  Act  and  Testimony  implied.  The 
substitute  which  the  minority  of  the  Presbytery  proposed  for  the 
original  resolutions  adopted  by  the  majority,  is  itself  a  sufficient  vin- 


108  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

dication  of  the  orthodoxy  of  the  excellent  brethren  of  the  minority. 
And  if  any  more  proof  be  wanted  to  show  that  these  brethren  found 
cause  to  alter  their  mind  before  the  actual  division  came,  the  fact 
that  the  only  two  living  ministers  of  the  minority  at  the  time  of  the 
re-union  voted  in  Presbytery  against  it.  With  these  remarks  we 
submit  the  complete  record  of  the  action  of  Presbytery,  as  found  in 
the  minutes. 

On  October  8,  1834,  the  consideration  of  the  Act  and  Testimony 
was  made  the  order  of  the  day  for  the  afternoon.  At  that  time,  the 
following  resolutions  were  offered  for  consideration  and  adoption,  viz  : 

" Resolved,  1.  That  Presbytery  renewedly  express  their  attachment  to  the 
Articles  and  Constitution  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  their  plain  and 
common  sense  meaning,  both  in  their  own  ministrations  and  in  the  admis- 
sion of  candidates  for  licensure  and  ordination. 

Resolved,  2.  That  Presbytery  express  their  adherence  to  the  Act  and 
Testimony,  sent  down  from  certain  members  of  the  minority  of  the  last 
Assembly,  purporting  to  be  a  statement  of  errors  that  are  received  (by 
some)  in  the  Presbyterian  Church." 

After  discussing  the  foregoing  resolutions  at  some  length,  adjourned 
till  the  next  morning  at  9  o'clock,  at  which  time  the  discussion  was 
resumed,  when  the  postponement  of  the  resolutions  was  moved,  for 
the  purpose  of  adopting  the  following  substitute,  viz : 

"The  Presbytery  ot  Huntingdon  during  its  session  at  Sinking  Creek, 
took  into  consideration  the  Act  and  Testimony  signed  by  several  ministers 
and  elders,  in  the  minority  of  the  last  General  Assembly  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and,  after  much  deliberation,  adopted  the  following  pream- 
ble and  resolutions,  as  expressive  of  their  views  on  the  subject: 

"  Whereas,  This  Presbytery  firmly  believe  that  the  Confession  of  Faith 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  contains  the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the 
Word  of  God ;  and  being  cordially  attached  to  this  system,  cannot  view 
with  indifference  the  rise  and  progress  of  errors  calculated,  when  carried 
out  by  just  inference,  seriously  to  affect  the  foundations  of  our  common 
faith  ;  and  being  convinced  that  strict  adherence  to  the  truth,  as  contained 
in  the  Sacred  Scriptures  and  our  standards,  is,  under  God,  the  best  security 
for  the  peace,  purity,  and  prosperity  of  our  beloved  Zion ;  and  it  being  our 
firm  determination,  with  meekness,  to  contend  earnestly  for  the  faith  once 
delivered  to  the  saints  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  1.  That  the  Presbytery  concur  in  the  testimony,  borne  against 
the  doctrinal  errors  specified  in  the  document  alluded  to,  whether  they  be 
found  in  or  out  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  as  being  in  our  view,  contrary 
to  the  standards  of  the  Church. 

2.  Without  undertaking  to  determine  to  what  extent  error  obtains  among 
the  ministers  of  our  connection,  Presbytery  do  declare  it  to  be  their  decided 


HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  100 

opinion  that  no  individual  holding  and  publishing  the  opinions  denounced 
in  said  Act  and  Testimony,  ought  to  be  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Holding  them  he  could  not  consistently  enter  it,  and  continuing 
to  hold  them  he  ought  not  to  remain  there,  but  should  immediately 
withdraw. 

3.  That  the  opinions  in  question  are  entirely  subversive  of  the  "  system 
of  doctrine"  contained  in  our  Confession  of  Faith,  and  taught  in  the  Word 
of  God.  They  amount  to  "  another  gospel,"  which  however  plausible  or 
agreeable  to  the  carnal  heart,  is  adapted  to  exert  a  most  baleful  influence  in 
regard  to  genuine  revivals  of  religion,  and  the  best  interests  of  the  Church 
of  God. 

4.  That  according  to  the  essential  principles  of  our  Church  government, 
none  can  consistently  be  admitted  into  our  connexion  but  such  as  we  have 
every  reason  to  believe  are  sincere  friends. 

5.  That  the  formation  of  Presbyteries  and  Synods  on  the  principle  of 
"  elective  affinity,"  is  unconstitutional ;  and  being  fraught  with  danger  to 
the  Church,  ought  not  to  be  countenanced  by  our  Supreme  Judicatory. 

6.  That  whilst  Presbytery  declare  their  determination  to  adhere  strictly 
to  our  doctrinal  standards,  they  would  protest  against  any  construction 
being  put  on  their  views,  as  though  they  implied  a  regard  to  mere  ortho- 
doxy, to  the  exclusion  of  the  spirit  and  power  of  vital  godliness ;  but  would 
affectionately  urge  upon  their  ministers,  elders  and  private  members,  that  in 
reliance  on  the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  they  would  diligently  use  all  scrip- 
tural means  to  have  religion  revived  in  their  own  hearts,  and  the  hearts  of 
the  people  throughout  our  churches." 

A  very  protracted  discussion  was  had  on  these  resolutions  5  and 
when  the  vote  was  about  to  be  taken  the  yeas  and  nays  were  called 
for,  and  the  question  was  decided  in  the  negative  by  the  follow- 
ing vote : 

Yeas — Messrs.  "Woods,  Peebles,  Collins  and  Sterrett,  ministers ;  and 
Messrs.  Nathaniel  Wilson,  G.  Eothrock  and  Samuel  McClay,  elders. 

Nays — Messrs.  Stuart,  Hutcheson,  Linn,  Hill,  Galbraith,  McKinney, 
Wilson  and  Porter,  ministers;  and  Messrs.  Kyle,  Long,  Kerr,  Lowry, 
Rankin,  Tussey,  Wason  and  Gilliland,  elders. 

The  vote  was  then  taken  on  the  original  resolutions,  and  decided  in 
the  affirmative  by  the  following  vote : 

Yeas — Messrs,  Stuart,  Hutcheson,  Linn,  Galbraith,  Hill,  McKinney  and 
Porter,  ministers;  and  Messrs.  Kyle,  Long,  Kerr,  Lowry,  Rankin,  Tusgey, 
Wason  and  Gilliland,  elders. 

Mr.  Annan,  being  moderator,  asked,  and  was  granted  leave,  to 
record  his  name  among  the  ayes. 

Nays — Messrs.  Woods,  Peebles,  Sterrett  and  Collins,  ministers;  and 
Messrs.  N.  Wilson,  Rothroek  and  McClay,  elders. 


110  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

Rev.  Samuel  Wilson,  (Dr.  Wilson,  of  El,  Paso,)  obtained  leave  to 
have  the  following  paper  inserted  in  the  minutes,  as  expressive  of  his 
views  in  relation  to  the  Act  and  Testimony  : 

"  The  subscriber  would,  in  connection  with  the  Presbytery  of  Hunting- 
don, hereby  declare  his  approbation  of  the  Act  and  Testimony,  with  the 
following  explanation  of  his  views  and  convictions  in  relation  to  it : 

1.  He  thinks,  from  the  strength  of  the  language  in  some  parts,  and  some 
of  the  general  features  of  the  document,  it  is  calculated  to  convey  an  idea 
that  the  errors  specified  exist  in  a  greater  extent  then  he  believes  they  do 
really  exist.  He  does  believe,  however,  that  some  or  all  the  errors,  both  in 
regard  to  doctrine  and  order,  specified  in  the  instrument,  do  exist  in  our 
Church  to  such  an  extent  as  to  call  for  the  prompt  and  decided  action  of 
the  friends  of  truth  for  the  maintenance  of  the  orthodox  faith,  as  exhibited 
in  our  venerable  standards  ;  but  he  believes  that  many  orthodox  and  pious  * 
brethren  are  ranked  among  the  friends  of  error,  only  because  they  have  not 
felt  at  liberty  in  conscience  to  go  with  the  adherents  of  orthodoxy  in  all 
their  measures ;  and  that  there  is  still  a  majority  of  the  ministers  in  our 
Church  sound  in  the  faith,  and  lovers  of  the  Presbyterian  form  of  church 
government. 

2.  He  cordially  agrees  with  the  signers  of  the  Act  and  Testimony  in  the 
opinion  that  the  formation  of  Presbyteries  and  Synods  on  the  principle  of 
"elective  affinity,"  is  unconstitutional,  and  fraught  with  dangerous  ten- 
dency. But  as  one  or  more  judicatories  have  been  formed  already  on  this 
obnoxious  plan,  and  recognized  by  our  General  Assembly  as  a  constituent 
part  of  it,  he  would  not  be  willing  to  treat  all  their  actions  and  doings  as 
null  and  void,  merely  on  account  of  the  acknowledged  unconstitutionality 
of  their  formation.  He  would  be  willing  to  treat  theirs  as  the  acts  and 
doings  of  other  churches,  not  in  connection  with  the  General  Assembly. 

"SAMUEL  WILSON." 

This  important  matter  being  disposed  of.  Presbytery  proceeded  to 
the  transaction  of  the  ordinary,  but  not  unimportant  business.  A 
petition  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  village  of  Pine  Grove  and  vicin- 
ity, to  be  organized  into  a  congregation,  was  granted;  and  Mr.  Linn 
whs  appointed  to  this  service,  and  at  the  following  meeting  reported 
its  performance. 

A  committee  previously  appointed  on  the  subjects  of  catechetical 
instruction  and  family  religion,  presented  a  report  which  was  unani- 
mously adopted,  and  is  as  follows  : 

"The  committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  minute  for  the  adoption  of  the 
Presbytery,  in  reference  to  catechetical  instruction  of  youth  and  family 
religion,  report  the  following  : 

1.  Resolved,  That  Presbytery  views  with  much  regret  the  rapidly  declin- 
ing attention  of  parents,  and  others  concerned  in  the  education  of  youth,  in 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  Ill 

regard  to  the  use  of  that  must  excellent  and  effectual  method  of  imparting 

knowledge,  catechetical  instruction. 

'2.  Resolved,  That  we  do  earnestly  recommend  and  exhort  all  our  minis- 
ters to  attend  punctually  and  faithfully  to  the  catechetical  instruction  of 
the  youth  of  their  respective  charges,  and  that  all  parents,  heads  of  families, 
and  others  intrusted  with  the  education  of  the  young,  to  use  their  utmost 
diligence  to  have  them  instructed  in  the  doctrines  exhibited  in  our  Confes- 
sion of  Faith  and  Catechisms,  especially  that  they  endeavor  to  have  them 
commit  to  memory  that  most  valuable  compend  of  Christian  theology — the 
Shorter  Catechism. 

3.  Resolved,  That  we  cordially  recommend  for  their  assistance  in  this 
important  duty,  that  excellent  little  work  entitled,  "  A  Key  to  the  Shorter 
Catechism." 

4.  Resolved,  That  the  use  of  the  Shorter  Catechism  in  Sabbath-Schools, 
as  far  as  practicable,  be  earnestly  recommended. 

5.  Resolved  further,  That  Presbytery  views  with  feelings  of  the  deepest, 
regret,  the  great  neglect  of  family  prayer,  which  prevails  to  some  extent 
within  our  bounds.  Heads  of  families  who  are  professors  of  religion,  who 
have  taken  on  them  the  most  solemn  vows  to  keep  up  family  religion,  to 
pray  with  and  for  their  children,  and  even  elders  in  some  instances,  wholly 
neglect  the  performance  of  this  duty,  to  the  great  detriment  of  vital  godli- 
ness, and  the  serious  hindrance  of  the  cause  of  Christ.'' 

These  resolutions  were  passed  unanimously  in  the  Fall  of  1834,  and 
they  are  just  as  appropriate  now,  after  nearly  forty  years  have  elapsed, 
and  even  more  so,  than  they  were  at  the  time  they  were  adopted. 
And  not  only  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon, 
but  throughout  the  whole  church.  It  is  to  be  feared  that  catecheti- 
cal instruction  and  family  religion,  are  much  neglected  in  many  of 
the  churches. 

At  this  time  the  Rev.  James  Gaxbraith  requested  that  the  pastoral 
relation  between  him  a*nd  the  Frankstown  congregation  be  dissolved, 
and  it  appearing  that  the  congregation  concurred,  his  request  was 
granted.  .At  an  adjourned  meeting  held  during  the  session  of  the 
•Synod  at  Gettysburg,  October  30,  his  relation  to  the  congregation 
of  Williamsburg,  was,  at  his  request  also  dissolved.  At  the  previous 
stated  meeting  a  call  was  presented  from  the  congregation  of  Sinking 
Creek  for  the  one-half  of  the.  pastoral  labors  of  Rev.  David  McKinney, 
and  from  the  congregation  of  Spring  Creek  for  the  other  half  of  his 
time,  of  which  calls  Mr.  McKinney  having  declared  his  acceptance, 
and  Messrs.  Linn  and  Wilson  were  appointed  a  committee  to  install 
him  at  a  time  to  be  fixed  on  between  them  and  the  congregations. 


T 


112  HISTORV   OF   THE   PRESBYTERY   OF   HUNTINGDON". 

The  ReY.  James  Nourse  was  called  to  Perrysville,  the  new  congre- 
'  gation  formed  out  of  his  former  charge  of  East  Kishacoquillas ;  the 
call  was  laid  before  Presbytery  at  the  stated  meeting  in  the  beginning 
of  October,  and  at  the  adjourned  meeting,  at  Gettysburg,  he  an- 
nounced his  acceptance,  and  Messrs,  Woods  and  Sterrett  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  install  him  on  the  1st  Wednesday  of  Decem- 
ber following. 

At  this  meeting  also,  a  call  was  presented  from  Middle  Tuscarora 
•p  congregation  for  the  pastoral  labors  of  the  Rev.  James  M.  Olmstead, 
y  for  three-fourths  of  his  time.  Mr.  O.  presented  a  certificate  of  dis- 
mission from  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  of  which  he  was  a  member, 
and  was  received  and  took  his  seat  as  a  member  of  the  Presbytery : 
the  call  was  put  into  his  hands,  and  having  announced  his  acceptance 
of  it,  Messrs.  Hutcheson  and  Woods  were  appointed  to  install  him  on 
the  fourth  Wednesday  of  November. 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  April  7,  1835,  the  Rev. 
John  Hutcheson  called  the  attention  of  the  members  to  the  decease 
of  the  Rev.  William  Reed,  which  occurred  on  the  12th  of  August 
preceding.  Mr.  Reed  was  appointed  a  missionary  to  Northern  India, 
from  this  Presbytery,  under  the  care  of  the  Western  Board  for 
Foreign  Missions.  The  Presbytery  had  pledged  itself  for  his  support. 
On  the  5th  of  April,  1833,  Presbytery  ordained  him  with  a  view  to  his 
missionary  work,  and  on  the  7th  of  April,  1835,  his  death  was  an- 
nounced to  the  Presbytery,  and  the  following  minute  was  recorded : 

"  The  attention  of  Presbytery  being  called  to  the  decease  of  our  lamented 
brother  and  missionary  to  Northern  India,  the  Rev.  William  Reed,  Pres- 
bytery take  occasion  to  express  their  deep  sense  of  this  affliction  of  Divine 
Providence,  and  would  humble  themselves  in  submission  to  the  Divine 
Will,  and  record  their  affectionate  sympathy  with  the  bereaved  widow,  and 
numerous  connections  and  relatives  of  their  departed  friend  and  brother." 

The  writer  well  remembers  the  grief  and  despondency  excited 
throughout  the  Old  School  portion  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  on 
account  of  the  removal  by  death  of  Mr.  Reed  and  his  missionary  com- 
/"i)  panion,  the  Rev.  Matthew  Laird,  the  first  missionaries  of  the 
X  Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  within  the  first  year  of  their 
entering  upon  their  missionary  field.  The  providence  seemed  to  be 
mysterious  and  discouraging;  but  the  issue  has  proved  that  God  only 
intended  to  prove  the  faith  of  his  people;  and  instead  of  discour- 
aging, served  to  increase  the  missionarv  zeal  of  the  churches.     Soon 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESBYTERY  OP  HUNTINGDON.  I  I  .1 

others  came  forward  to  take  their  places,  and  no  missions  since  that 
time  have  heen  more  successful  than  the  missions  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 

At  this  meeting  .a  call  was  presented  from  East  Kishacoquillas  con- 
gregation for  the  pastoral  services  of  the  Rev.  Joshua  Moore,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia.  Mr.  M.  was  present  as  a 
corresponding  member,  but  not  having  his  certificate  of  dismission 
from  his  Preshytery  it  could  not  be  put  into  his  hands  at  the  time. 
At  a  subsequent  meeting,  held  June  16,  Mr.  M.  was  received  as  a 
member  of  the  Preshytery,  and  the  next  day  installed  pastor  of  East 
Kishacoquillas  congregation. 

The  Rev.  McKnight  Williamson*  was  also  received  from  the  Pres- 
bytery of 'Carlisle;  a  call  from  the  congregation  of  Lower  Tuscarora 
for  two-thirds  of  his  time  put  into  his  hands,  accepted,  and  a  commit- 
tee appointed  to  install  him  on  the  following  Tuesday. 

A  convention  of  ministers  and  elders  was  called  on  the  part  of 
those  who  were  afterwards  called  -'The  Old  School,"  to  be  held  in  the 
I  'ity  of  Pittsburgh  the  week  before  the  meeting  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly in  the  same  city,  for  the  purpose  of  consultation  on  the  state  of 
th.'  Church.  The  Presbytery  resolved  to  send  delegates  to  said  con- 
vention, a  small  minority  dissenting.  The  Rev.  John  Hutcheson  and 
Mr.  Jonathan  MoWilliams,  ruling  elder  of  the  congregation  of 
Spruce  Creek,  were  appointed  the  delegates ;  witli  Rev.  Samuel  Wil- 
son and  Mr.  Henry  Long,  alternates. 

A  committee  appointed  to  examine  the  minutes  of  the  General 
A-sembly  of  1834,  and  report  such  items  as  may  require  the  action  of 
Presbytery,  reported  that  resolutions  2.  7  and  8.  on  the  26th  page  of 
the  printed  minutes,  require  the  particular  consideration  of  the  Pres- 
bytery; whereupon  Rev.  Messrs.  Linn  and  Wilson  were  appointed  a 
committte  to  draft  a  memorial  to  the  General  Assembly  on  thesubject 
of  those  resolutions.  Subsequently  the  committee  reported  the  fol- 
lowing paper,  which  was  accepted  and  adopted: 

•'The  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  being  met  at  Alexandria  on  tin-  '.ith  >>\' 
April,  183-3,  would  very  respectfully  present  to  tin-  General  Assembly  the 
following  memorial : 

While  the  Presbytery  are  disposed  to  regard  the  General  Assembly  as 
the  highest  judicatory  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  to  respect  it  as  exer- 
cising a  jurisdiction  over  the  whole  body,  they  feel  it  their  privilege, 
according  to  the  Confession  of  Faith,  to  present  their  views  on  any  subject 
which  mav  come  before  the  General  Assemblv. 


114  niSTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

1st.  Presbytery  request  very  respectfully  that  the  General  Assembly 
would  dissolve  the  union  which  has  subsisted  between  the  Presbyterian 
Church  and  the  Congregational  Churches,  adopted  in  1801  for  new  settle- 
ments ;  and  that  the  members  of  those  bodies  be  considered  and  treated  in 
the  same  way  as  foreign  ministers  are  to  be  treated  according  to  the  resolu- 
tion of  the  Assembly.  We  apprehend  that  evil  rather  than  good  has  been 
the  result  of  the  union  which  has  existed ;  provided  that  the  friendly  cor- 
respondence be  kept  up  by  an  exchange  of  commissioners  to  the  respective 
judicatories  as  heretofore. 

2d.  We  request  further,  that  the  General  Assembly  rescind  the  7th  reso- 
lution on  the  26th  page  of  printed  minutes  of  the  last  year,  as  we  think 
Presbyteries  have  the  right  to  judge  of  the  qualifications  of  their  own 
members,  and  to  deprive  Presbytery  of  this  is  an  infringement  of  their  con- 
stitutional right.  We  think  that  while  no  evil  can  result  from  the  prudent 
exercise  of  the  right  of  examing  persons  coming  from  other  Presbyteries, 
much  evil  may  result  from  the  contrary  course. 

3d.  We  also  request  that  the  Assembly  would  so  qualify  and  alter  the 
8th  resolution  on  the  same  page,  that  the  Presbytery  may  not  be  prevented 
from  deciding  in  their  judicial  capacity  on  books  teaching  heresies,  where 
the  authors  are  not  subject  to  their  control,  or  so  far  removed  from  their 
local  situation,  that  they  cannot  be  reached  without  very  great  difficulty. 
While  we  would  acknowledge  that  the  most  correct  mode  of  procedure  in 
the  case  of  those  who  publish  heresy,  is  to  arraign  and  try  the  authors 
themselves,  according  to  the  evidence  which  their  books  present,  we  think 
there  are  many  cases  which  may  be  supposed,  in  which  it  is  not  practicable 
for  an  ecclesiastical  judicatory  to  lay  their  hands  on  the  authors.  We  think 
it  a  right  which  should  be  allowed  to  the  inferior  judicatories  to  express 
their  opinion  on  them,  that  the  people  may  be  put  on  their  guard  against 
the  errors  published  in  such  books." 

The  Rev.  S.  Wilson  was 'appointed  to  organize  a  church  at  Martins- 
burg,  Bedford  county,  at  the  request  of  the  people  in  that  place  and 
vicinity,  and  Mr.  Hill  to  organize  a  church  at  Birmingham,  Hunting- 
don county,  by  request  of  the  people.  Mr.  Hill  requested  that  his 
pastoral  relation  to  the  congregation  of  Sinking  Valley  be  dissolved, 
and  at  the  adjourned  meeting  in  June  following,  his  request  was 
granted,  the  congregation  consenting.  Mr.  Thomas  J.  Keating,  a 
candidate  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  gospel,  April  9,  1835. 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted,  the  last  item  of  business 
transacted  at  this  regular  Spring  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  : 

"  Resolved,  That  whereas  the  Rev.  William  Reed,  our  missionary  to 
Northern  India,  has  been  removed  by  death.  Presbytery  would  renew  their 
purpose    in    reliance    on    Divine    aid,  and    the    Christian  liberality  of  our 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  1  I  "> 

churches  to  support  another  missionary  in  the  foreign  field,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  TV.  F.  Missionary  Society." 

The  most  important  items  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Presbytery 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  ecclesiastical  year  of  1835,  were  the  re- 
leasing of  so  many  of  the  pastors  from  their  charges,  and  their  dis- 
mission to  other  Presbyteries.  The  Rev.  James  Galbraith  was  dis- 
missed to  the  Presbytery  of  Nashville,  the  Rev.  Garry  Bishop  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Allegheny,  the  Rev.  William  Annan  to  the  Presbytery  > 
of  Redstone,  and  the  Rev.  George  D.  Porter  to  the  Presbytery  of 
1  >hio.  Thus  six  churches  were  left  vacant,  and  one  missionary  district 
to  be  supplied.  ^- 

The  Revs.  D.  McKinney  and  S.  Wilson  having  expressed  their 
willingness  to  perform  a  month  or  six  weeks  missionary  labor  within 
the  bounds  of  Presbytery,  were  appointed  to  this  service,  provision 
being  made  by  Presbytery  for  the  supply  of  their  pulpits  during  their 
absence.  They  spent  the  time  principally  in  Clearfield  county.  Upon 
their  report  of  their  missionary  tour,  and  no  doubt  at  their  sugges- 
tion, the  Presbytery  divided  the  churches  in  the  county  into  two 
missionary  districts.  Mount  Pleasant,  Fruit  Hill,  Cherry-tree,  and 
the  neighboring  places,  to  be  considered  a  missionary  district.  And 
Clearfieldtown,  Pike,  Brady,  and  adjoining  places,  be  considered 
another  district,  and  that  application  be  made  to  the  Board  of  Mis- 
sions for  aid  for  these  missionary  districts. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  held  October  30th,  at    — 
York,  Pa.,  during  the  sessions  of  the  Synod,  Mr.  Robert  C.  Galbraith, 
eldest  son  of  Rev.  James  Galbraith,  was  taken  under  the  care  of 
Presbytery  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry. 

The  ecclesiastical  year  1836  is  barren  of  any  particular  incident  in 
the  history  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon.  The  Rev.  Matthew  B. 
Hope  was  ordained  to  the  gospel  ministry,  with  a  view  to  laboring  as 
i  missionary  in  foreign  lands,  which  he  afterwards  did  for  several 
years,  till  failing  health  compelled  him  to  return  home.  After  his 
return  he  regained  in  a  measure  his  health,  lived  for  several  years. 
and  occupied  some  important  stations  in  the  church. 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  October  of  this  year, 
1 1836,)  an  unusual  case  was  brought  to  the  notice  of  Presbytery, 
namely,  that  of  an  elder,  who  had  left  his  own  church  in  which  he 
had  been  installed,  without  a  dismission,  and  was  elected  and  installed 
an  elder  in  another  church,  and  then  returned  and  officiated  in  the 
church   with   which   he  was  first   connected.     The    Presbytery   by    a 


f 


<-?.< 


Ill)  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HINTIXGDOX. 

formal  resolution,  pronounced  the  procedure  on  the  part  of  the  elder, 
irregular  and  contrary  to  a  decision  of  the  General  Assembly. 

At  this  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  Mr.  Eobert  C.  Gambbaith,  a 
student  of  theology  under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  was  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel. 

At  a  prove  nata  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  held  at  East  Kishaco- 
quillas,  on  the  27th  of  January,  1837,  the  Rev.  James  M.  Olmsteak 
whs  released  from  the  charge  of  Middle  Tuscarora  congregation,  and 
dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Newton. 

^  At  the  stated  Spring  meeting,  April  4,  1837,  the  Rev.  Jambs  S. 
Woods  was  called  by  the  congregation  of  Lewistown  for  the  whole  of 
his  time.  Heretofore  he  had  served  as  pastor  both  Lewistown  and 
Waynesburg,  dividing  his  time  equally  between  them. 

/Q  Mr.  Moses  Floy'd,  a  licentiate,  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia, 
-*\v  is  received  at  this  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  and  calls  were  pre- 
sented for  his  pastoral  services  from  the  congregations  of  West  Kisha- 
coquillas  and  Little  Valley.  These  calls  were  accepted  by  him,  and 
he  was  ordained  and  installed  at  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Presl>\ 
tery,  held  at  Little  Valley  in  June  following.  At  this  meeting,  also. 
1    the  Rev.  S.  Wilson  requested,  on  account  of  impaired  health,  that  the 

s  pastoral  relation  between  him  and  Alexandria  and  Hart's  Log  be  dis- 
solved. It  appearing  that  the  congregation  concurred,  but  with  much 
regret  at  the  necessity,  his  request  was  granted,  and  the  congregation 
declared  vacant.  About  this  time  the  congregation  of  Logan's  Vallej 
was  organized  by  Rev.  S.  Hill. 

The  meetings  of  the  Presbytery  this  year  were  exceedingly  impor- 
tant and  interesting,  because  of  the  variety  and  importance  of  the 
business  transacted,  especially  at  the  Fall  meeting.  The  Presbytery  of 
Huntingdon  had  always,  by  a  large  and  increasing  majority,  sustained 
the  General  Assembly  in  all  its  measures  tending  to  maintain  the 
orthodoxy  of  the  Church,  and  the  integrity  of  the  standards.  This 
was  the  year  immediately  preceding  the  actual  and  formal  division  of 
the  Church.  At  the  Assembly  of  1837,  those  measures  were  inagu- 
rated,  which  resulted  the  next  year  in  the  retirement  of  the  New 
School  portion  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  their  organization  into  a 
separate  Assembly.  By  this  time  the  small  division  of  sentiment  that 
appeared  in  Presbytery  in  regard  to  the  necessity  of  measures  adopted 
in  the  earlier  stages  of  the  controversy,  had  almost  entirely  disppeared. 
There  was  not  a  minister  in  the  Presbytery  who  really  sympathized 
with    the  new   Assembly    in  what  was  believed   to  be  their  doctrinal 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  117 

views,  so  far  as  they  varied  from  the  doctrines  of  the  Confession  of 
Faith.  The  only  difference  in  Presbytery  was,  that  a  few  of  the  mem- 
bers were  slow  to  believe  that  the  causes  of  difference  were  so  impor- 
tant, or  so  widely  extended,  as  to  call  for  the  decisive  measures  that 
were  afterwards  adopted.  But  their  views  gradually  changed,  as  the 
views  and  plans  of  the  leaders  of  the  defection  began  as  gradually  to 
lie  developed;  and  at  the  time  of  the  actual  division,  there  was  not  a 
member  of  the  Presbytery  that  took  sides  with  the  new  party,  nor  a 
whole  congregation  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery.  But  did 
not  the  coming  together  of  the  separated  parts  of  the  Church,  a  little 
over  a  quarter  of  a  century  after  the  division,  prove  that  those  were 
right  who  deprecated  division  in  the  first  instance,  supposing  that 
there  were  no  such  radical  causes  existing  at  the  time  to  justify  it '.' 
By  no  means.  Within  the  thirty  years  succeeding  the  division  great 
changes  had  taken  place  in  the  character  and  policy  of  the  New 
School.  Their  whole  policy  as  to  irresponsible  voluntary  associations 
for  the  carrying  on  of  Church  work  was  entirely  changed ;  they  had 
proven,  by  experience,  the  evils  resulting  to  Presbyterianism  from 
such  voluntary  associations ;  the  downward  tendency  to  fundamental 
error  was  arrested  by  the  division ;  and  there  was  a  gradual  return- 
ing to  the  landmarks  of  the  Church — the  old  wine  was  proven  to  be 
better  than  the  new — and  the  parties  were  prepared  to  come  together 
on  the  simple,  honest  and  common  sense  interpretation  of  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Confession  of  Faith.  If  this  be  not  so  our  reunion  is  ;i 
deception  and  a  cheat.  Our  decided  opinion  is,  that  the  original  divi- 
sion was  as  good  for  the  New  Side  as  for  the  Old  School. 

But  to  proceed  with  the  narration  of  the  doings  of  the  Presbytery 
in  order  as  they  occurred  during  the  last  half  of  the  year  1837.  The 
fust  item  of  business,  after  the  organization  of  Presbytery,  was  the 
reception  of  Mr.  John  Dun  lap,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Castle,  who  had  been  supplying  the  congregation  of  Frankstown  (Hol- 
lidaysburg)  for  some  months  previously.  A  call  had  been  prepared 
for  him  and  presented  to  Presbytery  at  this  meeting,  but  was  declined 
because  it  was  not  unanimous,  a  minority  being  in  opposition.  Mr. 
DrxLAP  asked  and  obtained  leave  to  travel  without  the  bounds  of  the 
Presbytery,  and  was  called  and  settled  in  a  congregation  in  the  Pres 
bytery  of  Marion,  Ohio. 

Messrs.  Moore,  McKinnev  and  Banks,  elder,  were  appointed  t<>  >■> 
amine  the  Minutes  of  the  Assembly,  and  report   such   items  as 


-2 


I  18  HISTORY    OF    THK    PRESBYTEBY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

require  the  action  of  Presbytery.  Also,  Messrs.  McKinney,  Linn  and 
Banks  were  appointed  to  report  relative  to  ministers  and  licentiates 
coming  to  preach  within  the  bounds  of  Presbytery.  This  committee 
reported  the  next  day,  as  follows : 

"The  committee  relative  to  traveling  ministers  and  licentiates  made 
report,  which  was  amended  and  adopted,  and  is  as  follows  : 

1.  Resolved,  That  Messrs.  Woods,  Linn,  Moore,  Hutcheson  and  Bank,- 
be  a  committee  to  examine  the  credentials  of  ministers  and  licentiates  from 
other  Presbyteries,  between  the  stated  meetings  of  Presbytery. 

2.  Resolved,  That  it  be  the  duty  of  this  committee,  or  any  three  of  them, 
on  being  satisfied  of  the  authority  to  preach,  of  the  soundness  in  the  faith, 
and  of  the  attachment  to  the  order  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  of  any 
minister  or  licentiate,  to  give  him  an  introductory  letter  to  our  churches, 
authorizing  them  to  receive  him  until  the  next  stated  meeting  of  the  Pres- 
bytery. 

3.  Resolved,,  That  in  case  of  any  doubts  existing  in  the  mind  of  any 
member  of  the  committee,  it  shall  be  his  duty  to  inform  the  chairman, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  call  a  meeting  of  the  committee  to  decide  on  the 
case. 

4.  Resolved,  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  committee  to  report  its 
doings  to  Presbytery  at  each  stated  meeting,  and  also  to  inform  Presbytery 
of  any  minister  or  licentiate  who  may  preach  within  their  bounds  without 
the  approbation  of  the  committee ;  and  also  to  inform  Presbytery  of  any 
church  or  churches  which  may  employ  a  man  to  preach  to  them  statedly, 
without  the  approbation  of  Presbytery,  or  during  the  recess  of  Presbytery, 
without  the  approbation  of  the  committee. 

5.  Resolved,  That  a  due  regard  to  Presbyterial  order  makes  it  incumbent 
on  the  churches,  not  to  employ  any  one  to  preach  to  them  statedly,  without 
having  first  consulted  the  Presbytery. 

6.  Resolved,  That  Presbyterial  order  in  like  manner  requires  that  every 
minister  and  licentiate  coming  within  the  bounds  of  a  Presbytery,  report  to 
them  and  obtain  permission  to  preach  in  vacant  churches ;  or  during  the 
recess  of  Presbytery,  to  obtain  permission  of  the  Presbytery's  committee. 

7.  Resolved,  That  it  be  enjoined  on  the  members  of  Presbytery,  and  on 
the  Sessions  of  vacant  churches,  to  have  this  minute  read  in  their  respective 
congregations." 

The  following  order  was  passed,  which  has  never  been  repealed,  and 
the  observance  of  which  in  all  cases  might  be  of  great  benefit : 

'■'■Resolved,  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Session  of  any  of  our  churches 
from  which  any  member  may  remove  without  obtaining  a  certificate  of 
their  church-membership,  to  ascertain,  if  possible,  the  residence  of  such 
member,  and  write  to  the  Session  of  the  Church  into  whose  bounds  he  or 
the  may  have  removed,  apprising  them  of  the  fact."  • 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OP    HUNTINGDON.  1  19 

The  committee  on  the  minutes  of  the  last  General  Assembly  made 
a  report,  which  was  accepted  and  adopted,  and  is  as  follows: 

"  The  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  in  considering  the  doings  of  the  late 
General  Assembly,  express  their  satisfaction  that  by  their  decisive  action 
an  end  has  at  last  been  put  to  the  great  and  growing  evils  which,  for  a 
series  of  years,  had  been  sapping  the  root  of  our  church's  prosperity.  We 
had  long  witnessed  with  pain  the  progress  of  error  in  doctrine,  extravagance 
in  measures,  and  looseness  of  discipline,  by  which  the  cause  of  Christ  within 
the  bounds  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States  of  America  had  been  so  mournfully  dishonored  and  reproach- 
ed, and  were  sensible  that  a  crisis  had  at  last  been  reached  to  decide  for 
future  generations  the  fate  of  our  beloved  Zion,  and  we  desire  gratefully  to 
acknowledge  the  manifest  interposition  of  our  covenant  God  in  averting,  b\ 
a  summary  process,  the  alarming  inroads  of  the  adversary.  And  as  no  alter- 
native remained  to  the  Assembly  in  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  because 
formal  discipline,  and  amicable  division  were  unattainable,  it  was  incum- 
bent on  the  Assembly  to  have  recourse  to  the  measures  finally  adopted  by 
them.  Therefore,  in  view  of  the  whole  case,  as  now  issued,  be  it  resolved  as 
the  sense  of  this  Presbytery  :  That  the  General  Assembly  be  fully  sustain- 
ed in  all  its  measures  of  reform  connected  with  the  abrogation  of  the  plan 
of  union  formed  by  it  with  the  Congregational  Association  of  Connecticut 
in  1801,  because  that  plan  was  wholly  unconstitutional,  should  therefore 
never  have  been  formed,  and  ought  long  since  to  have  been  abrogated,  as 
each  successive  Assembly  was  fully  empowered  to  annul  it,  and  as  the  late 
General  Assembly  did,  and  therefore  no  more  than  what  preceding  Assem- 
blies left  undone,  to  the  manifest  disadvantage  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Be  it  therefore  further  resolved  :  That  the  plan  of  union  formed  in  New 
York,  A.  D.  1808,  being  essentially  the  same  with  the  aforesaid  plan  of 
1801,  the  abrogation  of  the  latter  is  an  abrogation  of  the  former,  for  stand- 
ing on  the  same  foundation,  they  fall  together.     Again, 

Resolved,  That  the  declaration  of  the  General  Assembly,  that  the  Synods 
of  the  Western  Reserve,  Utica,  Geneva,  and  Genesee,  are  no  part  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  was  a  declaration  founded  in  truth,  the  churches  of 
which  those  Synods  are  composed  being  organized  generally  on  congrega- 
tional principles,  and  without  adopting  our  Confession  of  Faith. 

Resolved,  That  as  the  churches  composing  those  Synods  have  been  the 
receptacles,  or  the  originators  of  much  error,  disorder,  and  fanaticism,  it 
was  wise  and  proper  in  the  late  General  Assembly  to  pass  the  declarative 
act  referred  to,  and  thus  prevent  those  Synods  from  exerting  their  influence 
to  spread  corruption  through  the  church,  to  the  paralyzing  our  discipline, 
the  wasting  of  our  energies  and  the  destruction  of  our  peace. 

Resolved,  That  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society,  and  the  Ameri- 
can Education  Society  arc  not  Presbyterian  institutions;  that  they  have 
placed  themselves  in  the  attitude  of  hostility  to  the  institutions  of  our 
Church;  that  their  action    within  oar  bounds  has  been  found  to  be  produe- 


120  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

tive  of  much  evil ;  and  that  therefore  the  General  Assembly  was  bound  to 
recall  its  recommendation  of  these  societies,  and  to  advise  a  withdrawal  of 
their  operations  from  within  our  hounds. 

Resolved,  That  the  General  Assembly  has  no  power  either  to  create  or 
dissolve  a  Presbytery ;  but  having  unconstitutionally  formed  one,  it  was 
bound  to  dissolve  it.  The  dissolution  of  the  Third  Presbytery  of  Philadel- 
phia was  therefore  incumbent  on  the  Assembly.  And  as  there  was  suffi- 
cient reason  to  believe  that  that  Presbytery  was  formed  to  shield  and  propa- 
gate error,  and  as  it  had  shown  itself,  in  at  least  some  cases,  the  patron  of 
error  and  disorder  ;  therefore  its  members  should  not  be  received  into  anotb- 
er  Presbytery  without  examination  ;  and  therefore  the  General  Assembly 
did  right  in  not  attaching  its  members  by  enactment  to  other  Presbyteries. 
It  was  proper  to  direct  its  members  to  make  application  to  the  Presbyteries 
that  they  might  be  received  on  examination;  this  being  a  door  of  entrance 
to  which  no  sound  Presbyterian  ought  to  object. 

Resolved,  That  the  Presbytery  will  endeavor  to  carry  out  the  measures 
of  the  late  General  Assembly  by  all  constitutional  means ;  and  that  we 
humbly  and  devoutedly  look  to  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  for  his  bless- 
ing upon  the  labors  of  the  friends  of  truth. 

Resolved,  That  we  greatly  regret,  that  any  should  resist  the  lawful  au- 
thorities of  the  Church  in  their  regular  action,  and  do  all  in  their  power  to 
perpetuate  strife;  but  that  it  is  our  part  meekly  to  endure  reproach,  and 
firmly  to  resist  aggression,  and  while  we  "  earnestly  contend  for  the  faith 
once  delivered  to  the  saints,"  not  to  use  carnal  weapons,  but  to  use  those 
which  are  spiritual  and  mighty  to  the  pulling  down  of  strong  holds. 

Signed,  JOSHUA  MOORE, 

October  4,  1837.  Chairman  of  the  Committee. 

An  adjourned  meeting  of  Presbytery  was  held  at  Alexandria  on  the 
0>  7th  and  8th  of  November,  at  which  the  Rev.  Alexander  Porter  was 
received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Wilmington;  and  at  the  request  of 
the  congregation  of  Waynesburg  (McVeytown),  was  permitted  to  sup- 
ply them  till  the  next  stated  meeting.  And  Mr.  Thomas  J.  Keating, 
a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery,  was  ordained  sine  titulo. 


CHAPTER   VII. 


FROM  1838  TO  1845. 

Death  of  Mr.  Keating — Overture  from  the  General  Assembly  on  the  Issuing  of  Appeals— Con- 
gregation of  Newton  Hamilton  Organized — Rev.  John  McKinney  Called  to  Alexandria  and 
Rev.  W.  J.  Gibson  to  Hollidaysburg — Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  State  of  the  Church — 
Mr.  Benjamin  Carrell  Called  to  McVeytown  and  Newton  Hamilton — Mr.  S.  Bryson  Restored 
to  the  Communion  of  the  Church — April,  1839,  Rev.  John  Hutcheson  Resigned  as  Stated 
Clerk,  and  the  Rev.  Joshua  Moore  Appointed — Missionary  Paper  Offered  and  Passed — Re- 
port in  Reference  to  Family  Religion — Sabbath  Desecration  on  our  Public  Highways — 
Messrs.  Cooper  and  Betts  Licensed  April,  1810 — Order  in  Regard  to  Settlement  of  Pastors 
Salaries — Fast-Day  Recommended — Deacons — Books  of  the  Board  of  Publication — Rev.  Thos. 
P.  Hunt  Invited  to  Visit  and  Lecture  on  Temperance — Intermediate  Meetings  of  Presby- 
tery— Mission  Boards  under  Control  of  the  Church  Preferred — Rev.  William  Adam — Rev. 
A.  McKeehan's  Affliction — The  Marriage  of  a  Divorced  Woman — Marriage  Celebrated  by  a 
Licentiate — Question  of  the  Division  of  the  Synod — Temperance  Resolution — Ministers  Re- 
ceived and  others  Dismissed — Resolution  on  Popery — Additions  to  the  Churches — Rev.  Dr. 
M.  Brown — Systematic  Benevolence — Rev.  Joshua  Moore  Resigns  as  Stated  Cleck — Mr.  John 
Lloyd  Ordained  May  7, 1814 — Mr.  Thos.  C.  Porter  Licensed — Committee  on  Temperance — 
Board  of  Publication. 

THE  stated  Spring  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  was  held  at  Spring 
Creek,  April  10,  1838.  After  the  making  up  of  the  roll,  the 
death  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  J.  Keating  was  announced,  who  had  been 
ordained  to  the  gospel  ministry  only  at  then'  last  meeting.  Mr.  Keat- 
ing died  on  the  15th  of  February  preceding. 

An  overture  sent  down  by  the  General  Assembly  on  the  issuing  of 
appeals  in  Synod,  in  certain  cases,  was  at  this meeting  considered  and 
negatived. 

A  petition  from  a  part  of  the  congregation  of  McVeytown,  living  in 
and  around  the  village  of  Newton  Hamilton,  asking  to  be  organized 
into  a  separate  congregation,  was  presented,  and  the  request  granted; 
and  Messrs.  Peebles  and  Woods  were  appointed  a  committee  to  organ- 
ize the  Church. 

The  Rev.  John  McKinney  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Richland ;  and  calls  being  presented  for  him  from  the  congregations 
of  Alexandria  and  Sinking  Valley,  and  being  accepted,  Messrs.  David 
McKinney  and  D.  Sterrett  were  appointed  a  committee  to  install  in 
the  early  part  of  May  following. 

16 


^ 


/•T> 


122  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 


/£*: 


A  call  from  the  congregation  of  Hollidaysburg  for  the  Rev.  Wil- 
iiAM  J.  Gibson,  was  presented  and. read;  and  leave  was  granted  to  the 
congregation  to  prosecute  the  call  before  the  second  Presbytery  of 
Philadelphia,  of  which  he  was  then  a  member. 

Presbytery  recommended  to  congregations  to  have  several  days 
preaching  in  connection  with  communion  seasons,  when  practicable. 

The  Fall  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  this  year,  was  the  first  meeting 
held  after  the  division  of  the  Church  by  the  secession  of  the  minority 
from  the  General  Assembly,  which  met  in  the  Seventh  Presbyterian 
Church,  Philadelphia,  on  the  17th  day  of  May,  A.  D.  1838. 

A  committee  was  appointed  early  in  the  sessions  of  the  Presbytery, 
to  consider  and  report  upon  the  state  of  the  Church.  Rev.  Messrs.  D. 
'  McKinnev,  David  Sterrett  and  John  Owen,  Esq.,  were  appointed 
that  committee.  Before  the  close  of  the  sessions  of  the  Presbytery, 
.they  brought  in  the  following  report,  which  was  accepted  and  adopt- 
ed, viz  : 

"  The  committee  on  the  state  of  the  church  report,  for  the  adoption  of 
Presbytery,  the  following  resolutions,  viz : 

1st.  Resolved,  That  the  Assembly  which  met  and  constituted  in  the  7th 
Presbyterian  Church,  in  Philadelphia,  in  May  last,  was  the  true  and  only 
General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America. 

2d.  Resolved,  That  the  body  of  minister-  and  elders  which  met  in  the 
1st  Presbyterian  Church,  in  Philadelphia,  was  a  schismatical  body,  and  is 
to  be  considered  as  a  secession  from  the  General  Assembly. 

3d.  Resolved,  That  all  Presbyteries,  parts  of  Presbyteries,  minister-  and 
churches,  who  have  connected,  or  who  may  connect  themselves  with  the 
above  mentioned  schismatical  body,  should  be  held  as  seceeders  from  the 
General  Assembly,  and  as  no  longer  composing  a  part  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America. 

4th.  Resolved,  That  this  Presbytery  will  adhere  to  the  General  Assembly, 
and  insist  on  the  continued  exclusion  of  the  above  mentioned  schismatical 
body,  whatever  may  be  the  result  of  suits  now  pending  in  the  civil  court- 
respecting  the  property  of  the  Church,  or  respecting  the  rights  of  claimants 
to  seats  in  the  Assembly. 

5th.  Resolved,  That  we  consider  the  late  secession  of  a  number  of  persons 
calling  themselves  Presbyterians,  but  who  were  really  not  Presbyterians, 
either  in  doctrine  or  in  order,  as  a  happy  deliverance  of  our  church  from 
both  dangerous  error  and  distracting  strife,  and  that  this  deliverance  ef- 
fected in  the  Providence  of  God,  calls  for  gratitude  and  praise  to  the  Father 
of  mercies. 

6th.  Resolved,  That  our  late  experience  teaches  us  the  importance  of  a 
more  close  adherence  to  our  standards,  and  greater  strictness  in  receiving 


HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  123 

members  into  our  Presbyteries,  and  a  more  zealous  effort  to  provide  our 
churches  abundantly  with  a  learned,  pious,  and  orthodox  ministry. 

7th.  Resolved,  That  this  Presbytery  approve  of  the  three  acts  ordained 
and  established  by  the  General  Assembly  of  A.  D.  1838,  and  recorded  on 
p.  p.  33-37  of  the  Minutes." 

The  acts  referred  to  in  the  above  resolution  have  relation  to  the 
pacification  of  the  church,  the  minorities  of  Presbyteries  adhering  to 
the  General  Assembly,  to  continue  the  succession  where  they  are  suf- 
ficiently numerous  to  perforin  Presbyterial  acts,  and  when  otherwise 
to  await  the  action  of  their  respective  Synods,  etc.,  etc.  These  acts 
will  be  found  at  large  in  the  Minutes  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
1838.  The  remaining  business  attended  to  at  this  meeting  of  the 
Presbytery  was  of  the  most  ordinary  kind. 

Mr.  Benjamin  Carrell,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadel-  'JU- 
phia,  was  received  under  care  of  Presbytery,  and  calls  being  presented 
for  him  from  Waynesburg  and  Newton  Hamilton  churches;  Presby- 
tery appointed  an  adjourned  meeting  to  be  held  at  Waynesburg  on 
the  last  Thursday  of  the  present  month,  for  his  ordination  and  in- 
stallation, if  the  way  should  be  clear.  He  was  ordained  and  installed 
at  the  time  appointed. 

A  Presbyterian  Church,  on  application  of  the  people,  was  ordered 
to  be  organized  at  Fruit  Hill,  Clearfield  county,  and  Mr.  Hill  ap- 
pointed to  do  it. 

The  Rev.  Alexander  Porter,  at  his  request,  was  dismissed  to  con- 
nect himself  with  the  2d  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia.  And  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Wilson,  to  connect  himself  with  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone. 

The  Rev.  Wm.  J.  Gibson  having  declined  the  call  given  him  from  ''j&~ 
the  congregation  of  Frankstown,  at  this  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  a 
call  was  presented  from  said  congregation  for  the  Rev.  Algernon  S. 
McMasters,  and  leave  was  granted  to  prosecute  it  before  the  Presby- 
tery of  Albany. 

A  petition  was  presented  from  Mr.  Samuel  Bryson,  who  many  years 
before  had  been  deposed  from  the  ministry,  to  have  the  censure  re- 
moved, whereu])on  it  was 

Resolved,  That  the  censure  be  so  far  removed,  that  he  be  permitted  to  ap- 
ply to  the  Session  of  Spruce  Creek  Church  for  private  membership,  and  ac- 
ceptance by  them,  if  they  approve  of  him. 

As  an  historical  fact  we  record  it,  that  he  was  so  received  by  the 
Session,  and  died  in  the  communion  of  the  church  many  years  after- 


1 


124  HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON. 

wards,  giving  no  occasion  for  the  renewal  of  the  censures  of  the 
church. 

Messrs.  David  McCay,  Samuel  M.  Cooper  and  Frederick  G.  Betts, 
were  taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  as  candidates  for  licensure, 
and  the  several  parts  of  trial  were  assigned  them. 

In  closing  up  the  history  of  the  Presbytery  to  the  end  of  the  year 
of  the  division  of  the  General  Assembly,  it  is  of  great  satisfaction  to 
add,  that  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  was  but  slightly  affected  by 
the  division  as  to  the  number  of  its  ministers  and  congregations;  in- 
deed, not  at  all  as  to  its  ministers,  all  adhering  to  the  Old  School 
General  Assembly,  and  as  before  noted  only  a  few  private  members 
separated  from  two  of  our  largest  congregations,  and  formed  two 
small  congregations,  which  were  connected  afterwards  with  the  New 
School  Presbytery  of  Harrisburg,  and  these  were  never  enlarged  by 
accessions  from  neighboring  Old  School  Churches. 

On  the  9th  of  April,  1839,  the  Presbytery  met  at  Hollidaysburg. 
The  Rev.  John  Hutcheson  at  this  time  resigned  the  office  of  stated 
clerk,  the  duties  of  which  he  had  discharged  since  the  death  of  Mr. 
V  Coulter  in  1834,  and  Rev.  Joshua  Moore  was  appointed  his  successor. 
Mr.  Collins'  pastoral  relation  to  the  church  at  Millerstown  was  dis- 
solved at  his  request  and  with  consent  of  the  congregation.  Rev. 
/0  Wm.J.  Gibson  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Beaver,  and  a  call 
from  the  congregation  of  Frankstown  (Hollidaysburg)  presented  for 
his  pastoral  labors,  put  into  his  hands,  accepted  by  him,  and  arrange- 
ments made  for  his  installation  during  the  present  sessions  of  the 
Presbytery. 

A  committee  was  appointed  on  the  state  of  the  church,  consisting 
of  Messrs.  Linn,  Hope,  Sterrett,  ministers,  and  Boal,  elder.  This 
committee  reported  at  some  length,  but  it  is  deemed  not  important  to 
re-produce  it  in  full.  The  decision  in  the  civil  court  of  the  suit  as  to 
the  property  of  the  church,  in  the  first  instance,  and  at  this  time. 
under  the  presidency  of  Judge  Roduers,  had  been  decided  against  the 
Old  School.  The  substance  of  the  report  was  expression  of  regret  at 
this  result,  hope  in  regard  to  the  future,  trust  in  God  and  determina- 
tion to  adhere  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Old  School,  should  all 
the  property  of  the  church  be  lost.  Application  had  been  made  at 
this  time  for  a  new  trial. 

A  paper  was  presented  by  the  Rev.  D.  McKinney,  on  missionary 
operations  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery,  which  was  adopted, 
and  is  as  follows,  viz : 


-'.'"'     : 


r*Q*  Hv*TF*,itrv.* 


FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH, 

HALLIDAYSBURG. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  ]  25 

"  Whereas,  There  are  extensive  destitutions  within  the  bounds  of  Hun- 
tingdon Presbytery ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  while  Presbytery  feel  themselves  obliged  not  to  diminish 
aught  from  their  zeal  and  beneficence  in  the  cause  of  Foreign  Missions, 
they  feel  themselves  imperiously  called  upon  to  make  greater  efforts  to  sup- 
ply their  own  vacancies.  And  whereas,  our  churches  are  likely  to  act  more 
efficiently  when  they  have  a  definite  object  in  view ;   therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  specially  recommended  to  the  ministers  and  churches 
in  Mifflin  and  Centre  counties  to  supply  the  destitutions  in  the  Bald  Eagle 
ridges,  and  to  raise  funds  for  the  aid  of  the  feeble  churches  in  Clearfield 
county,  and  that  the  ministers  and  churches  in  Juniata  and  Huntingdon 
counties  make  similar  efforts  in  behalf  of  feeble  churches  and  destitute 
places  in  said  counties,  and  in  the  part  of  Bedford  county  within  our 
bounds.  And  whereas,  it  is  highly  important  that  the  churches  in  Clear- 
field beimmediately  supplied ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  to  any  brother  who  may  settle  in  those  churches  with  the 
approbation  of  this  Presbytery,  we  promise,  either  through  the  Board  of 
Missions,  or  by  special  contributions  from  our  churches,  or  by  appropria- 
tions from  funds  raised  for  domestic  missions,  or  by  all  these  means  uni- 
ted, the    sum  of    two   hundred   dollars,  annually,  for   the   three    years,    if 

i led  so  long,  in  addition  to   what  the  churches  there  may  contribute  to 

his  support." 

The  only  matters  of  any  importance  to  record  as  ocourring  during 
the  latter  half  of  this  year  (1839)  are  the  resignation  by  Mr.  Linn  of 
his  pastoral  relation  to  the  congregation  of  Lick  Run,  and  giving  all 
of  his  time  to  Bellefonte,  (up  to  this  time,  these  two  congregations 
had  been  united  in  one  pastoral  charge,)  and  the  report  of  Mr.  Hill 
on  the  subject  of  family  worship,  to  which  service  he  had  been  ap- 
pointed at  a  previous  mooting.  The  report  was  committed  to  a  com- 
mittee, of  which  Mr.  I>.  McKinxev  was  chairman,  to  prepare  a  pas- 
toral letter  to  the  churches  on  the  subject  of  family  religion.  At  the 
next  stated  mooting  of  the  Presbytery  the  committee  reported  a 
letter,  which  was  approved  by  the  Presbytery,  and  it  was  ordered  to 
be  published  in  "  The  Presbyterian"  of  Philadelphia,  ami  the  cl  Presbye- 
rian  Advocate''''  of  Pittsburgh,  and  two  thousand  copies  as  a  tract  for 
the  use  of  Presbytery. 

During  these  years  the  principal  route  of  travel  through  Central 
Pennsylvania,  and  also  for  the  transportation  of  goods,  was  by  the 
-real  Pennsylvania  Canal.  There  wore  many  lines  of  transportation, 
besides  a  regular  passenger  line,  running  all  days  of  the  week;  on  the 
Sabbath,  as  well  as  the  other  days  of  the  week.  A  great  number  of 
men  were  employed  in  the  transportation  business,  and  consequently 


$ 


126  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

deprived  voluntarily,  or  by  necessity  of  the  privilege  of  the  Sabbath. 
The  Presbytery,  out  of  concern  for  the  condition  of  these  men,  and 
from  a  regard  to  the  sacredness  of  the  Sabbath,  desired  to  do  some- 
thing towards  arresting  travel  and  transportation  on  the  Sabbath. 
Therefore  the  following  resolution  was  passed  at  the  Spring  meeting 
of  the  Presbytery  of  1839,  viz : 

" Resolved,  That  the  ministers  along  the  line  of  the  canal  endeavor  to 
ascertain  whether  any,  and  what  additional  effort  can  he  made  to  reach  the 
boatmen  with  the  Gospel,  and  induce  them  to  regard  the  Sabbath  as  a  day 
of  rest  and  of  worship,  and  report  at  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery." 

At  the  time  designated  above  the  ministers  living  along  the  line  of 
the  canal,  reported  verbally  their  views  of  the  means  of  usefulness 
among  boatmen  ;  when  it  was 

"  Resolved,  That  they  be  directed  to  continue  their  inquiries  and  efforts, 
especially  to  influence  the  owners  and  captains  of  boats  to  regard  the  obli- 
gations of  the  Fourth  Commandment,  and  the  forwarding  merchants  to  en- 
courage the  boats,  and  lines  of  boats  which  rest  on  the  Sabbath.  And 
further, 

Resolved,  That  Messrs.  Woods  and  Gibson  be  a  committee  to  correspond 
with  the  members  of  the  Presbyteries  along  the  line  of  the  canal  on  this 
subject." 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  April  15,  1840,  the  following 
minute  was  made:  "The  committee  of  correspondence  on  the  line  of 
the  canal  reported.  Their  report  was  accepted,  and  the  committee 
continued."  This  is  believed  to  be  the  origin  of  the  appointment  of 
a  missionary  for  boatmen  on  the  line  of  the  canal,  which  was  contin- 
ued as  long  as  the  public  works  were  retained  in  the  hands  of  the 
State ;  or  as  long  as  the  canal  continued  to  be  the  chief  thoroughfare 
for  transportation  and  travel. 

At  this  time  Messrs.  Samuel  M.  Coopjir  and  Frederick  G.  Betts, 
having  passed  through  all  their  trials  to  the  satisfaction  of  Presby- 
tery, were  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel,  and  Mr.  Betts  was  appointed 
to  supply  the  churches  in  Clearfield  county  till  the  next  stated  meet- 
ing of  Presbytery. 

The  following  resolution,  in  regard  to  the  payment  of  pastors' 
salary,  was  passed : 

"Resolved,  That  the  congregations  are  bound  on  Scriptural  principles, 
punctually  to  discharge  their  pecuniary  obligations  to  their  pastors  ;  and 
that  the  Church  Sessions  are  hereby  directed  to  urge  upon  the  Trustees  of 
their  congregations  a  due  attendance  to  this  subject,  and  endeavor  to  have 
their  account  with  their  pastor  settled  according  to  the  terms  of  the  call  ; 


HISTORY    OP    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  127 

and  that  Presbytery  will  inquire  of  ministers,  and  of  the  representatives  of 
the  congregations  at  the  stated  meeting  in  April,  annually,  whether  settle- 
ments have  been  duly  made." 

The  Presbytery  closed  its  sessions  at  this  time,  "recommending  to 
the  churches  to  observe  the  Friday  before  their  next  communion  as 
a  day  of  fasting,  humiliation  and  prayer,  in  view  of  the  low  state  of 
religion  in  our  bounds,  and  with  desires  for  a  revival." 

At  the  opening  of  the  next  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  October  6, 
1840,  calls  were  presented  for  Mr.  Cooper  from  Lick  Run,  and  for  Mr.  .  .1- 
Betts  from  Clearfield  town,  and  Pike  (or  Curwensville),  and  arrange- 
ments were  made  for  their  ordination  and  installation  respectively. 
•An  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  was  held  at  Lick  Run  on  the 
15th  of  the  current  month,  at  which  time  Mr.  Cooper  was  ordained  >•• 
and  installed  pastor  of  said  Church ;  and  at  a  meeting  held  at  Clear- 
field,  the  2d  Wednesday  of  November  following,  Mr.  Betts  was  or- 
dained and  installed  pastor  of  Clearfield  church. 

At  the  previous  stated  meeting  Mr.  John  E.  Alexander  was  taken    j? 
under  the  care  of  Presbytery  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry.     A  pas- 
toral letter,  as  before  noted,  had  been  prepared  and  sent  forth  to  the 
churches  of  the  Presbytery,  on  the  subject  of  family  religion,  and  at 
this  time  the  following  minute  was  recorded,  viz : 

"  Resolved,  More  effectually  to  carry  out  resolutious  No.  1  and  3,  of  the 
pastoral  letter,  and  for  the  promotion  of  godliness  within  our  churches,  the 
Sessions  he  required  to  report  to  Presbytery,  at  its  next  regular  meeting, 
how  far  the  members  of  'sessions  and  of  the  churches  are  deficient  in  attend- 
ing to  the  duty  of  family  worship." 

The  General  Assembly  having  recommended  the  observance  of  the 
first  Sabbath  of  January  following,  as  a  day  of  special  prayer  for  the 
conversion  of  the  world,  the  churches  of  the  Presbytery  were  directed 
to  attend  to  the  recommendation.  The  attention  of  the  churches  was 
further  directed  to  the  resolution  of  the  General  Assembly  requiring 
the  election  of  deacons,  as  far  as  practicable.  And  it  was,  by  resolu- 
tion, enjoined  upon  the  Sessions  of  the  Churches,  to  use  their  influ- 
ence for  the  circulation  of  the  books  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  of 
Publication  within  their  respective  congregations. 

The  Presbytery  having  learned  that  the  Rev.  Thomas  P.  Hunt  was 
willing,  if  encouraged,  to  visit  this  region  of  country,  and  lecture  on 
the  subject  of  temperance ;  therefore,  it  was 

"Resolved,  That  he  be  and  hereby  is  cordially  welcomed  into  our  bound.-, 
and  that  the  members  of  Presbytery  will  aid  him  in  the  furtherance  of  the 
cause  of  temperance." 


128  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

Messrs.  Gibson,  Woods  and  Peebles,  were  appointed  a  committee 
to 'communicate  this  resolution  of  the  Presbytery  to  Mr.  Hunt. 

For  the  first  time  we  find  this  year  the  report  of  the  committee  on 
the  narrative  of  the  state  of  religion  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presby- 
tery recorded  upon  the  minutes.  Such  a  committee  had  regularly 
been  raised  each  year,  and  reported  a  narrative  to  be  presented  to  the 
Synod,  but  the  report  itself  had  not  been  entered  on  the  minutes. 

But  this  year,  for  the  first  time,  the  whole  report  is  spread  upon  the 
minutes.  It  might  be  interesting,  if  it  were  not  too  long,  to  copy  the 
whole  narrative,  as  showing  the  estimate  of  the  state  of  religion  in 
the  churches  of  the  Presbytery  upwards  of  thirty  years  ago.  Let  it 
suffice  to  present  a  synopsis  of  the  narrative. 

"  1.  The  committee  offer  it  as  a  matter  of  '  rejoicing  and  thanksgiving,' 
that  a  goodly  number  of  additions  have  been  made  to  the  churches  during 
the  past  season,  and  also  consider,  as  an  indication  for  good,  the  usually 
good  attendance  on  the  public  means  of  grace.  2.  Yet  there  are  some 
things  that  present  a  melancholy  aspect. 

'  There  is  a  deplorable  want  of  vital,  active  piety  among  professing 
christians.'  With  a  few  exceptions  in  some  portions  of  the  churches,  they 
are,  it  is  to  be  feared,  too  generally  immersed  in  the  cares  and  pursuits  of 
time,  to  the  neglect  of  those  higher  and  holier  objects  that  should  first  and 
chiefly  engage  their  attention.  Thence  come  a  train  of  evils  painful  to 
.  behold.  And  first  among  these  is  the  great  neglect  of  family  religion. 
That  there  should  be  found  families,  bearing  the  christian  name,  who  live 
in  the  neglect  of  family  worship,  is  a  matter  of  deep  regret,  and  it  presents 
what  in  other  circumstances  would  be  considered  an  absurdity.  With 
what  propriety  could  the  priests  around  the  Temple  of  old  have  been  called 
such,  without  an  altar  and  without  sacrifices  to  offer  upon  that  altar.  But 
christians  are  in  the  '  Word  of  God  styled  priests,'  and  yet  here  is  a  priest 
without  an  altar,  without  a  sacrifice  !  The  prevalence  of  intemperance,  not 
in  the  church,  but  the  seeming  indifference  in  the  church  to  the  evil,  and 
the  want  of  success  to  the  temperance  cause,  want  of  spirited  and  energetic 
support  of  the  benevolent  institutions  of  the  church,  Sabbath  desecration, 
etc.  In  view  of  these  things  there  is  much  reason  for  humiliation,  con- 
fession and  earnest  prayer  for  the  reviving  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
upon  our  hearts,  and  for  his  gracious  interposition  for  the  salvation  of  sin- 
ners in  our  midst. ' ' 

This  narrative  seems  to  have  been  prepared  by  our  late  brother 
Sterrett,  chairman,  of  the  committee. 

April  13,  1841,  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  was  held  at  the 
church  of  East  Kishacoquillas.  During  the  first  half  of  this  ecclesias- 
tical year  several  changes  occurred  in  the  positions  of  the  members  of 
the  Presbytery  and  the  supply  of  the  churches.     The  Rev.  William 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  129 

r^  J.  Gibson  was  called  to  the  Union  Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia,   | 
and  on  his  acceptance  of  the  call,  with  the  permission  of  the  Presby- 
tery, the  congregation  of  Hollidaysburg  was  made  vacant.     The  Eev. 
John  Fleming  was  called  to  the  congregation  of  Middle  Tuscarora,    ] 
over  which  he  was  installed  by  a  committee  of  Presbytery  the  follow- 
ing month  of  May.     An  adjourned  meeting  of  Presbytery  was  held  at 
Lewistown  the  latter  part  of  May,  when  Mr.  David  McCay  was  licen 
sed  to  preach  the  Gospel.     The  Rev.  David  McKinney  was  transfer-    X- 
red,  by  the  usual   process,  from   Spring   Creek   and   Sinking   Creek 
churches  to  Hollidaysburg.     He  was  installed  pastor  of  Hollidaysburg 
Church  on  the  last  Wednesbay  of  June,  1841. 

There  were  held  two  adjourned  meetings  of  Presbytery,  or  interme- 
diate meetings,  between  the  stated  Spring  and  Fall  meeting  this  year. 
These  meetings  were  very  partially  attended.  The  reasons  for  this 
no  doubt  were,  the  distance  of  many  of  the  members  from  the  place 
of  meeting,  and  the  fact  that  ordinarily  there  are  but  one  or  two 
items  of  business  to  be  attended  to,  though  at  an  adjourned  meeting 
any  Presbyterial  business  may  be  transacted. 

Sometimes  very  important  business  may  be  transacted,  but  when 
this  is  foreseen  it  will  call  forth  a  very  general  attendance  of  the 
members.  The  last  two  intermediate  meetings  had  been  thinly  at- 
tended, and  some  very  important  business  had  been  transacted. 
Therefore,  at  the  regular  meeting  in  the  Fall,  a  resolution  was  passed 
"earnestly  enjoining  on  the  ministers  and  representatives  of  sessions 
to  be  punctual  in  attending  to  all  the  meetings  of  Presbytery,  as  far 
as  practicable."  When  the  members  of  Presbytery  are  scattered  over 
a  large  territory,  as  is  and  was  the  case  with  the  Presbytery  of 
Huntingdon,  adjourned  or  intermediate  meetings  should  not  be  held 
without  absolute  necessity.  In  reviewing  the  two  intermediate  meet- 
ings held  between  the  first  of  April  and  the  first  of  October,  1841,  no 
disinterested  person  would  decide  that  they  were  absolutely  necessary, 
or  at  least  that  the  business  of  the  two  meetings  might  not  have  been 
compressed  into  one.  It  is  true,  absent  members  are  not  called  to  so 
strict  account  with  regard  to  these  meetings  as  in  case  of  absence 
from  the  regular  stated  meetings  of  the  Presbytery,  but  this  does  not 
remove  the  difficulty.  A  few  members  of  Presbytery  sometimes 
decide  very  important  questions. 

The  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  from  its  origin,  recognized  the 
importance  of  the  missionary  operations  of  the  Church,  and  were 
decidedly  in  favor  of  the  Boards  of  the  Church  from  the  time  of  their 

IT 


130  HISTORY    OP   THE    PRESBYTERY   OP    HUNTINGDON. 

organization.  They  were  among  the  first  to  perceive  the  inconve- 
nience of  the  irresponsible  character  of  voluntary  associations  for  per- 
forming the  work  of  the  Church.  When  there  were  no  Home  or 
Foreign  Mission  Boards  under  ecclesiastical  supervision  they  did  not 
overlook  their  obligations  of  duty  in  regard  to  these  matters,  and 
contributed  through  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for 
Foreign  Missions,  and  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society.  But 
as  soon  as  the  General  Assembly  had  established  Home  and  Foreign 
Missionary  Boards,  exclusively  under  its  own  supervision,  the  Pres- 
bytery gave  hearty  support  to  these  Boards.  From  time  to  time, 
at  the  successive  meetings  of  the  Presbytery,  resolutions  were  passed 
favorable  to  the  operations  of  these.  Boards,  and  urging  ministers  and 
congregations  under  their  care,  to  support  them  with  their  prayers 
and  contributions. 

The  following  resolutions  in  behalf  of  the  Boards  were  adopted  at 
the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  at  Bellefonte,  in  the  Fall  of 
1841,  viz : 

"Resolved,  1.  That  in  the  view  of  this  Presbytery,  the  Boards  of  our  Gen- 
eral Assembly  are  very  important  agencies  in  advancing  the  interests  of 
Christ's  kingdom,  and  maintaining  the  faith  in  its  purity  as  once  delivered 
to  the  saints. 

Resolved,  2.  That  the  united  action  and  hearty  co-operation  of  the  whole 
Church,  are  indispensably  necessary  in  carrying  out  the  benevolent  designs 
contemplated  by  these  Boards. 

Resolved,  3.  That  it  be  and  hereby  is  enjoined  on  all  the  ministers  of 
this  Presbytery,  to  instruct  their  respective  congregations  fully  in  the 
nature,  objects  and  operations  of  the  above  mentioned  Boards. 

Resolved,  4.  That  it  is  hereby  enjoined  on  all  the  pastors  and  stated  sup- 
plies in  this  Presbytery,  at  different  and  proper  seasons  in  each  ecclesiastical 
year,  to  press  the  claims  respectively  of  the  Boards  of  Missions  and  of 
Education  upon  the  minds  of  their  people,  so  as  to  secure  their  efficient  and 
continued  patronage  to  the  various  objects  contemplated  by  them. 

Resolved,  5.  That  ministers  and  their  sessions  shall  adopt  such  measures, 
in  the  collection  of  funds  as  are,  in  their  judgment,  best  adapted  to  secure 
the  greatest  amount  of  aid  from  their  congregations,  and  that  the  funds  so 
collected  be  transmitted  to  the  different  Boards,  through  the  Treasurer  of 
Presbytery,  or  otherwise,  as  may  be  most  convenient. 

Resolved,  G.  That  it  is  required  of  each  minister  or  elder,  at  each  annual 
Spring  meeting  of  Presbytery,  to  state  whether  the  duties  enjoined  in  the 
above  resolutions  have  been  performed." 

During  the  year  1842  several  changes  took  place  in  the  Presbytery  ; 
some  members  were  received,  some  were  dismissed,  and  several  candi- 


HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  131 

dates  for  the  ministry  were  licensed,  and  some  pastoral  relations  were 
dissolved,  and  vacant  churches  supplied  with  pastors. 

The  Rev.  William  Adam  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Car- 
lisle, and  installed  pastor  of  Sinking  Creek  and  Spring  Creek 
churches;  and  Rev.  William  J.  Gibsox  was  received  from  the  Presbj 
tery  of  Philadelphia,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  church  of  Williams- 
burg. There  were  some  internal  troubles  in  three  of  the  churches  of 
the  Presbytery,  which  resulted  in  the  resignation  of  their  pastors. 
The  Rev.  Moses  Floyd  resigned  the  charge  of  Little  Valley,  which  he 
served  one-third  of  the  time;  and  afterwards  West  Kishacoquillas 
congregation,  which  constituted  the  other  part  of  his  charge.  The 
Rev. -John*  Fleming  resigned  the  charge  of  Middle  Tuscarora  congre-  J^- 
gation.  Dissatisfaction  had  arisen  in  a  portion  of  the  congregation  of 
Aughwick  with  the  pastor,  the  Rev.  George  Cray,  and  a  petition 
presented  to  Presbytery  for  the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation, 
which  the  Presbytery  refused  to  entertain  because  of  its  informality. 

Mr.  David  McCay,  a  licentiate,  was  dismissed  to  put  himself  under 
the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Clarion.  Mr.  John  E.  Alexander,  a-^.- 
candidate  for  the  ministry  under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  gospel.  Mr.  Thomas  Porter,  a  member  of  the  church 
at  Alexandria,  was  on  application  received  under  the  care  of  Presby- 
tery, as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry.  Rev.  Matthew  B.  Hope  was,  J£~ 
by  his  own  request,  dismissed  to  connect  himself  with  the  Presbytery 
of  Philadelphia. 

The  General  Assembly  of  this  year  adopted  the  following  preamble 
and  resolution,  which  we  record  in  full,  impressed  with  the  excellent 
wisdom  of  it,  had  it  been  practically  and  fully  carried  out,  viz : 

"Whereas,  It  appears  from  the  statistical  reports  from  various  part> 
of  our  church,  and  it  is  well  known  to  this  Assembly,  that  there  are  some 
Presbyteries  which  have  more  churches  than  ministers,  and  other  Presby- 
teries which  have  unemployed  ministers  and  licentiates  under  their  care  ; 
therefore, 

Resolved.  That  it  be  enjoined  on  such  Presbyteries  to  report  these  facts, 
with  the  names  and  locality  of  their  vacant  churches  and  unemployed 
ministers,  to  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Missions,  who  arc 
hereby  appointed  and  authorized  to  act  as  a  committee  of  supplies  for  tin- 
whole  church,  by  and  with  the  concurrence  of  the  Presbyteries." 

The  Rev.  Joshua  Moore,  stated  clerk  of  Presbytery,  was  directed       \ 
to  report  the  vacancies,  in  accordance  with  the  above  resolution. 

The  committee  which  had  been  appointed  at  a  previous  meeting  on 
the  New  Hymn  Book,  which  was  in  process  of  preparation  by  acorn- 


132  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON". 

mittee  of  the  General  Assembly,  reported  at  this  time,  u  that  the  New 
Book  of  Hymns 'be  in  general  approved,  but  with  many  exceptions  in 
phraseology,  and  some  exceptions  in  sentiment."  The  stated  clerk 
was  directed  to  forward  a  copy  of  this  report  to  the  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  Psalmody.  In  a  foot  note  in  the  book  of  minutes, 
the  stated  clerk  says,  "  These  were  transmitted  to  the  committee  on 
Psalmody,  but  are  not  here  inserted." 

There  are  no  means  of  ascertaining  with  any  degree  of  certainty 
the  state  of  religion  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  in  the  last 
two  years,  as  it  was  not  the  custom  generally  to  record  the  narratives 
on  the  state  of  religion  prepared  by  a  committee  every  Spring  and 
Fall.  We  can  only  judge  by  the  statistical  reports  published  in  the 
minutes  of  the  General  Assembly  of  each  year.  If  we  thus  judge, 
there  were  no  unusual  accessions  made  to  any  of  the  churches  of  the 
Presbytery  during  these  years ;  there  was  no  notable  revival  in  any 
church,  or  portion  of  the  churches.  It  is  true,  some  churches  had 
larger  additions  than  others,  but  they  had  more  materials  on  which  to 
operate.  Churches  in  large  and  growing  towns,  in  which  many  are 
locating,  will  naturally  show  larger  accessions,  both  by  certificate  and 
on  examination  or  profession  of  their  faith,  than  in  country  congrega- 
tions, where  the  population  is  more  permanent  and  unchangeable. 
But  in  all  cases,  during  these  years,  the  statistics  show  a  healthy  in- 
crease. 

As  a  matter  of  history  connected  with  the  doings  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Huntingdon  during  the  year  1843,  the  case  of  the  Rev.  Alexander 
McKeehax  ought  not  to  be  passed  over,  as  showing  the  care  and  sym- 
pathy which  the  Presbytery  manifested  in  the  ease  of  an  afflicted 
brother.  Mr.  McKeehan  had  become  insane.  What  provision  had 
been  made  for  his  case  heretofore  is  not  known ;  whether  he  had  been 
left  entirely  to  the  charge  of  his  family,  or  some  public  arrangement 
for  his  maintenance  and  safe-keeping.  The  Church,  as  a  Church,  had 
not  yet  made  any  general  provision  for  her  aged  and  infirm  ministers, 
or  those  otherwise  afflicted.  The  Presbytery  deemed  it  an  imperative 
duty  to  look  after  the  condition  of  Mr.  McKeehax.  Accordingly  one 
of  the  members — Mr.  Williamson — was  appointed  at  the  stated  meet- 
ing in  the  Fall  preceding,  to  inquire  into  the  circumstances  of  Mr. 
McKeehax  and  his  family,  and  at  this  Spring  meeting  he  reported. 
The  substance  of  the  report  is  as  follows  : 

"  1.  The  recognition  of  the  principle  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Church  to 
provide  for  the  comfortable  support  of  her  aged  and  distressed  ministers, 


HISTORY   OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  133 

and  their  widows  and  orphans,  and  that  she  is  not  justifiable  in  leaving 
them  to  the  provisions  of  any  other  body ;  that  Presbytery  will  endeavor 
to  carry  out  this  principle. 

2.  That  collections  be  taken  up  in  our  churches  to  be  applied  to  the  use 
and  relief  of  Mr.  McKeehan  and  family. 

3.  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  expedience  of 
removing  the  brother  to  the  Insane  Hospital  at  Philadelphia ;  or  what 
other  disposition  of  his  person  should  be  made  ;  and  to  correspond  with  the 
Presbytery  of  Carlisle  in  reference  to  aiding  in  his  support,  from  which 
Presbytery  he  came,  and  within  whose  bounds  he  was  now  residing. 

4.  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  mature  a  plan  for  efiicient  operation 
touching  the  future  attention  to  and  support  of  any  aged  ministers  and 
distressed,  or  their  widows  and  orphans  who  may  properly  belong  to  this 
Presbytery." 

The  report  was  accepted  and  adopted,  and  the  two  committees 
recommended  were  appointed.  The  death  of  Mr.  McKeehan,  soon 
after  this  time,  rendered  it  unnecessary  for  the  committee  in  his  case 
to  act ;  and  it  is  not  known  whether  the  committee  appointed  on  the 
general  subject  ever  reported. 

The  case  of  a  member  of  the  church  who  had  married  a  woman 
who  had  been  divorced  from  her  former  husband  on  the  ground  of 
desertion  and  ill-treatment,  was  referred  to  Presbytery  for  advice.     It 
was  committed  to  a  committee,  of  which  John  McKinney  was  chair 
man,  which  made  the  following  judicious  report : 

"  That,  in  the  present  case,  sufficient  testimony  has  not  been  before  Pres- 
bytery, respecting  the  character  of  the  woman  previous  to  her  divorce,  and 
her  efforts  to  sustain  the  conjugal  relation,  and  other  collateral  circum- 
stances which  bear  on  the  case,  to  enable  us  to  decide  the  question  whether 
.the  man  should  be  continued  a  member  of  the  Church,  or  be  suspended. 
We  therefore  recommend  that  the  case  be  referred  back  to  the  Session  of 
the  Church,  to  decide  according  to  the  best  of  their  judgment  on  the 
subject." 

By  a  communication  received  from  Messrs.  John  Piper  and  George 
Long,  elders  of  Yellow  Creek  congregation,  complaint  was  made  of 
irregularity  of  Mr.  John  Gr.  Howell,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Brunswick,  who  was  supplying  said  congregation,  for  marrying  a 
couple  contrary  to  the  order  of  the  Church.  The  whole  matter  of 
complaint  was,  that  Mr.  H.,  being  only  licentiate,  had  no  authority 
from  the  Church  to  officiate  on  such  an  occasion. 

This  case  was  committed  to  Messrs.  Williamson,  Moore  and  E. 
Banks,  Esq.,  elder.  The  following  is  the  record  on  the  minutes  of  the 
Presbytery  of  the  final  disposal  of  this  matter: 


134  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON. 

"The  committee  on  the  letters  of  Messrs.  Piper,  Long  and  Howell. 
reported.  Their  report  was  accepted,  and  amended  and  adopted,  and  is  as 
follows,  viz  : 

That  as  Mr.  J.  G.  Howell,  a  licentiate  under  the  care  of  New  Bruns- 
wick Preshytery,  officiated  within  our  hounds  at  the  solemnization  of  a 
marriage,  contrary  to  the  usages  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  gave 
considerable  dissatisfaction  thereby  to  the  people  among  whom  he  has  been 
laboring,  and  has  sent  a  very  indiscreet  letter  to  Presbytery,  as  an  apology 
for  his  irregularity,  and  states  that  he  should  attend  the  meeting  of  another 
Presbytery,  instead  of  coming  up  to  this  Presbytery  ;  therefore. 

Resolved,  That  Presbytery  cannot  approve  of  said  Mr.  Howell  preach- 
ing within  the  bounds  of  this  Presbytery  any  longer,  and  that  this  minute 
be  forwarded  to  New  Brunswick  Presbytery  by  the  stated  clerk,  and  that  a 
copy  of  Mr.  Howell's  letter  be  also  forwarded." 

It  is  probable  that  the  action  of  Presbytery  in  this  case  would  have 
been  somewhat  different  had  Mr.  Howell  attended  the  meeting  of 
Presbytery,  or  had  his  letter  been  of  a  different  spirit  and  temper : 
but  it  was  rather  defiant  of  the  authority  of  Presbytery,  and  even  in- 
solent in  its  bearing.  Had  Mr.  H.  been  in  attendance  on  his  own 
Presbytery,  it  would  not  have  been  a  matter  of  offense  to  the  Presby- 
tery of  Huntingdon,  but  this  was  not  the  case.  Had  circumstances 
connected  with  the  marriage  service  been  of  another  character,  the 
whole  case  would,  in  all  probability,  have  ended  with  an  advice  to  Mr. 
H.  to  be  more  prudent  in  the  future,  and  not  run  contrary  to  the 
usages  of  the  Church  and  the  prejudices  of  the  people.  At  the  next 
stated  meeting  Mr.  Howell  requested,  by  letter,  that  the  censure  of 
Presbytery  for  his  irregularity  be  removed,  which  Presbytery  refused 
to  do,  and  he  soon  after  left  the  bounds  of  Presbytery. 

About  this  time  the  propriety  of  a  division  of  the  Synod  was  agita- 
ted. The  committee  appointed  to  examine  the  minutes,  and  report 
any  item  of  business  that  might  require  the  notice  of  Presbytery, 
called  attention  to  this  subject,  when  the  following  resolution  was 
passed  unanimously,  viz  : 

il  Resolved,  That  this  Presbytery  are  opposed  to  any  division  of  Synod, 
except  such  an  one  as  would  include  this  Presbytery  in  a  Synod  witli 
Northumberland,  Carlisle,  and  Donegal." 

At  the  same  meeting  the  following  minute  was  adopted  on  the  sub- 
ject of  temperance  : 

"  The  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  grateful  to  Almighty  God  tor  the  pro- 
gress of  the  temperance  cause  within  their  bounds,  and  duly  impressed  with 
the  importance  of  the  churches  assuming  a  high  standing  on  this  subject. 
Jo  hereby  advise,  counsel  and  beseech  all  persons  in  the  communion  of  our 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  135 

churches,  t<>  decline  cither  to  sign  petitions  for  tavern  licenses,  or  to  present 
such  petitions  to  courts." 

The  year   1843  was   not  a  year   of   inactivity  to   the   Presbytery, 
though  there  was  not  much  business  transacted  out  of  the  common 
routine.     Some  ministerial  members  were  added  to  the  roll  of  Presby- 
tery, and  some  were  dismissed  to  other  Presbyteries,  and  some  candi- 
dates for  the  ministry  taken  under  care  of  Presbytery.     The  Rev. 
Andrew  Jardine  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia, 
and  in  due  time  installed  pastor  of  Middle  Tuscarora  congregation  ; 
Rev.  William  M.  Hall  was  received  from  Washington  Presbytery,  and 
Daniel  L.  Hughes,  a  licentiate,  from   West  Jersey  Presbytery,  was '  Jp' 
called  to  the  pastoral  charge  of  Little  Valley  congregation.     Messrs. 
Calvin  McDonald,  William  B.  Barton  and  David  Wilson,  were  taken 
under  care  of  Presbytery  as  candidates  for  the  ministry.     And.  Rev.    ._ 
John  Fleming  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Blairsville,  and  Mr.    .1 
John  E.  Alexander  to  the  Presbytery  of  New  Lancaster,  Ohio.     The  ** 
Rev.  Messrs.  G.  G-ray  and  S.   Hill   were   released   from  their  pas- 
toral charges ;  the  former  from  Augwick  congregation,  the  latter  from 
Spruce  Creek,  and  Mr.  Hill  obtained  liberty  to  travel  without  the 
bounds  of  Presbytery. 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted  in  reference  to  the  progress  of 
Popery  in  this  country,  viz  : 

"Whereas,  The  progress  of  Popery  in  our  country  gives  just  cause  to 
fear  for  the  permanency  of  our  religious  and  political  institutions ;  Ana 
whereas,  also  the  spread  of  Popery  in  foreign  lands,  forms  one  of  the  chief 
obstacles  to  missionary  success  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  is  our  duty  as  a  Presbytery  to  enlighten  our  people  in 
regard  to  the  idolatrous  and  wicked  doctrines  and  baleful  influence  of 
Popery." 

The  year  1843  may  be  termed  the  revival  year  of  the  Presbytery. 
The  additions  to  the  churches  were  more  than  double  those  of  any- 
previous  year. 

On  the  9th  of  January,  1844,  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Presby 
tery  was  held  at  Little  Valley,  the  principal  object  of  which  was  to 
ordain  and  install  Mr.  D.  L.  Hughes  pastor  of  Little  Valley  Church.   J^- 
At  this  meeting  a  committee  was  appointed  to  organize  a  church  at 
Philipsburg,  Centre  county. 

Other  items  of  business  were  attended  to,  but  not  of  such  general 
interest  as  to  be  worthy  of  permanent  record. 

The  regular  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  April  of  this  year 
was  held  in  Lewistown.     At  this  meeting  Mr.  Floyd  requested  anc1 


136  HISTORY   OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON. 

obtained  the  dissolution  of  his  pastoral  relation  to  West  Kishaco- 
quillas  Church.  The  appearance  of  the  venerable  Rev.  Dr.  Matthew 
Brown  in  the  Presbytery  on  the  second  day  of  the  sessions,  was  an 
event  too  interesting  to  the  members  of  the  Presbytery  to  be  passed 
without  particular  notice.  Dr.  Brown  had  been  ordained  by  this 
Presbytery  forty-two  years  before,  for  three  years  had  been  the  pastor 
of  one  of  its  churches,  Mimintown  and  Lost  Creek,  his  first  pastoral 
charge — most  of  the  then  present  members  had  been  his  students, 
graduates  of  Jefferson  College.  Only  one  of  his  cotemporary  mem- 
bers of  Presbytery  was  now  living,  the  Rev.  "William  Stuart  of  Penns 
Valley,  but  not  present  by  reason  of  age  and  infirmity.  Dr.  Brown's 
immediate  successor  in  the  pastoral  charge  of  Mifnintown  and  Lost 
Creek,  however  was  present,  and  still  in  active  and  efficient  service  in 
the  same  charge,  the  Rev.  John  Hutcheson.  It  may  well  be  believed 
that  his  presence  was  esteemed  an  event  of  unusual  interest  to  the 
Presbytery.  And  what  must  have  been  the  feelings  of  the  venerable 
man  in  revisiting  the  scenes  of  his  youthful  labors  in  the  ministry, 
and  not  very  far  from  the  place  of  his  birth?  And  while  he  surveyed 
the  members  of  Presbytery,  and  not  one  present,  and  but  one  living 
of  those  who  laid  hands  on  him  at  his  ordination,  or  had  been  his  Pres- 
byterial  cotemporaries  afterwards.  Some  of  us  who  were  comparative- 
ly young  men  could  not  then  enter  into  his  feelings  as  we  might  now 
if  the  scene  were  before  us.  It  was  the  last  time  that  some  of  us  saw 
the  venerable  President  of  Jefferson  College. 

In  accordance  with  a  resolution  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1844,  the 
Presbytery  took  up  the  subject  of  Systematic  Benevolence.  A  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  consider  the  subject,  and  at  this  meeting 
made  a  report.  The  object  aimed  at  was  to  organize  the  churches,  so 
as  to  present  the  various  objects  of  benevolence  to  every  member  of 
the  Church  at  least  once  a  year.  In  the  language  of  the  committee : 
"  To  call  out  and  combine  in  the  best  manner  the  various  talents  of 
God's  professing  people,  is  the  problem  which  has  tasked  the  wisdom 
of  our  Church  judicatories  in  past  time,  and  that  has  as  yet  by  no 
means  met  with  a  satisfactory  solution."  Nearly  thirty  years  are  past 
since  this  was  written,  and  yet  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  problem  has 
been  solved.  What  mean  the  annual  complaints  of  the  various 
Boards  of  the  Church  of  the  number  of  churches  non-contributing? 
The  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  from  the  very  beginning  of  the  con- 
troversy on  the  subject,  had  given  a  decided  preference  of  Ecclesiasti- 
cal over  Voluntary  Associations.     Their  commissioners  to  the  General 


HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF   HUNTINGDON.  137 

Assembly  had  uniformly  voted  for  ecclesiastical  organization  and 
supervision.  The  committee,  in  their  report,  urge  this  fact  upon  the 
churches,  to  stimulate  their  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  Boards,  as  a  mat- 
ter of  consistency.  "  Your  committee  presume  it  is  needless  to  argue 
that  it  is  not  enough  to  manifest  zeal  for  the  organization  merely  of 
Ecclesiastical  Boards.  Calling  them  into  being  is  but  the  beginning  of 
the  work  of  love  and  self-denial  that  devolves  on  those  who  profess  to 
yield  a  well-principled  preference  to  this  mode  of  action.  It  requires 
no  argument  to  prove  that  Presbyterianism  will  not  commend  and 
extend  herself  simply  by  having  a  full  set  of  Boards  ;  or  that  our 
Boards  must  have  funds  steadily  furnished  to  render  them  efficient ; 
and  that  these  funds,  being  for  the  advancement  of  Presbyterianism, 
must  be  raised  by  Presbyterians.  It  much  behooves  the  Presbytery 
to  manifest  more  zeal  and  liberality  to  prove  to  the  world  her  honesty 
of  preference,  and  the  excellence  of  the  plan  she  has  deliberately 
chosen." 

Then  follow  a  series  of  resolutions  which  it  would  occupy  too  much 
space  to  copy,  and  to  no  purpose.  Similar  resolutions  may  be  found 
in  vast  numbers  on  the  minutes  of  all  the  Presbyteries,  and  if  funds 
would  only  f$our  in  annually  to  the  treasuries  of  the  Boards  as  pro- 
fusely as  resolutions  in  their  behalf  are  offered  and  adopted,  they 
would  long  ago  have  been  overflowing. 

At  this  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  the  Rev.  Joshua  Moore  resigned 
the  position  of  stated  clerk,  and  the  Rev.  William  J.  G-ibson  was       Y- 
appointed  in  his  room. 

An  adjourned  meeting  of  Presbytery  was  appointed  to  be  held  at- 
Alexandria,  in  the  early  part  of  May  following.  The  principal  object 
of  the  meeting  was  the  ordination  of  Mr.  John  Lloyd,  should  the  way 
be  clear.  Mr.  Lloyd  was  just  closing  his  theological  studies  at  Prince-  Y 
ton  Seminary,  and  expected  to  be  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the 
Presbytery  of  New  York  at  its  sessions  in  April.  His  nativity  and 
residence  were  within  the  bounds  of  this  Presbytery,  and  as  he  had 
devoted  himself  to  the  work  of  Foreign  Missions  in  China,  he  request- 
ed ordination  at  the  hands  of  Huntingdon  Presbytery.  He  came 
with  a  letter  of  dismission  from  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  and 
was  licensed  as  expected.  After  the  usual  examinations  and  trials. 
he  was  ordained  by  the  laying  on  of  the  hands  of  Presbytery,  May  7, 
1844.  In  which  service  the  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Joshua 
Moore,  from  Mark  16: 15,  and  Rev.  James  Linn  presided  and  proposed 

18 


% 


138  HISTORY   pF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

the  constitutional  questions,  and  gave  the  charge  to  the  ordained 
minister  and  evangelist. 

At  the  same  meeting  Mr.  Thomas  C.  Porter,  a  student  of  theology 
under  care  of  Presbytery,  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  as  a^can- 
didate  for  the  ministry. 

In  another  part  of  this  history  notice  was  taken  of  the  early  efforts 
of  this  Presbytery  to  secure  the  better  observance  of  the  Sabbath 
along  the  lines  of  canals  and  railroads.  An  association  was  formed, 
having  its  head-quarters  in  Philadelphia,  having  this  object  in  view, 
and  Sabbath  missionaries  were  employed  along  these  lines  of  public 
improvement.  Among  these  missionaries  the  Rev.  Jeremiah  Miller, 
who  died  lately  in  Philadelphia,  was  chief.  The  Rev.  0.  S.  Powell, 
an  agent  of  the  Sabbath  Association,  being  present  at  this  time  with 
the  Presbytery,  was  heard  on  the  subject  of  the  Sanctification  of  the 
Sabbath,  and  probably  suggested  the  propriety  of  calling  a  convention 
at  Harrisburg,  (or  one  had  already  been  called,)  in  reference  to  this 
subject,  when  the  following  resolution  was  passed  by  Presbytery : 

"  Resolved,  That  this  Presbytery  highly  approve  of  the  calling  of  a  Con- 
vention to  promote  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  to  be  convened  at 
Harrisburg,  on  the  80th  of  this  month,  (May,  1844,)  and  that  it  be  and 
hereby  is  recommended  to  all  our  churches  to  send  delegates  to  said  con- 
vention." 

Here  was  a  convention  of  universal  interest  and  importance,  affect- 
ing the  members  of  all  churches,  and  all  others  of  every  class  in  the 
various  communities.  To  attend  it,  and  to  give  every  help  and 
encouragement  to  the  object  at  which  it  aimed,  was  neither  a  loss  of 
time  nor  a  waste  of  means,  as  may  be  said  of  many  of  the  conventions 
that  are  assembled  in  these  later  days. 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  consider  and  report  on  the  subject 
of  the  traffic  in,  and  use  of  intoxicating  drinks.  This  committee 
reported  at  the  stated  meeting  in  the  Fall  held  at  Lick  Run,  Centre 
county,  October  1,  1844.  The  report  was  published  in  the  religious 
and  secular  papers  at  the  time,  but  was  not  recorded  in  the  minutes. 
But  it  fully  sustained  the  highest  ground  the  temperance  reformation 
had  taken  up  to  that  time,  or  probably  has  since  taken. 

Mr.  Wm.  J.  Murphy,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia, 
■  was  received  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  at  this  time,  on  the 
usual  testimonials ;  and  calls  were  presented  for  him  from  the  congre- 
gations of  Mount  Pleasant,  Fruit  Hill  and  Philipsburg,  and  accepted. 
v1   The  Rev.  David  Sterrett  requested  the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral 


HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  139 

relation  between  him  and  the  congregation  of  Shaver's  Creek.  A 
committee  appointed  by  the  congregation  was  heard,  agreeing  to  the 
request ;  and  also  a  remonstrance  signed  by  several  members  of  the 
church.  Presbytery  ordered  another  meeting  of  the  congregation  to 
be  held;  and  appointed  an  adjourned  meeting  to  be  held  at  Lewistown 
on  the  15th  instant,  (i.  e.  October  15.) 

The  Presbytery  taking  great  interest  in  the  circulation  of  the  books 
of  the  Board  of  Publication,  and  some  of  the  members  supposing  that 
cheaper  editions  might  be  published,  and  thus  the  circulation  of  the 
books  greatly  facilitated,  a  resolution  to  that  effect  was  offered.  This 
resolution  was  committed  to  Messrs.  Nourse,  Moore  and  Hall,  to 
report  thereon  at  the  next,  or  adjourned  meeting  of  Presbytery. 

The  adjourned  meeting  was  held  at  the  time  appointed.  The 
request  of  Mr.  Sterrett  for  the  dissolution  of  his  pastoral  relation, 
(the  congregation  being  heard  from  in  a  regular  manner,)  Presbytery 
refused  to  grant.  The  committee  on  the  Board  of  Publication  report- 
ed ;  when  both  the  original  resolution  and  the  report  of  the  committee 
were  set  aside,  to  adopt  a  substitute  offered  by  the  Rev.  Joshua 
Moore,  which  is  as  follows  : 

"The  religious  and  reading  public  generally  are  furnished  at  present 
with  such  an  amount  of  publications  at  very  cheap  rates  by  private  book 
establishments,  as  to  awaken  apprehensions  for  our  book  concern ;  it  is 
deemed  of  great  importance,  if  not  of  indispensible  necessity,  that  by  some 
efficient  plan  we  may  secure  our  proportion  of  public  patronage,  to  supply 
a  better  quality  of  intelligent  and  religious  literature.  And  as  the  intrinsic 
worth  of  our  standard  works  is  decidedly  greater  in  the  main  than  that  of 
those  referred  to,  we  anxiously  desire  to  see  them  greatly  diffused.  No  way 
appears  so  likely  to  secure  this  end  as  to  cheapen  the  rates  of  the  works  pub- 
lished by  our  Board,  if  deemed  practicable  and  expedient  by  those  who 
have  the  management.  We  respectfully  recommend  the  reduction  of  their 
cost,  provided  thereby  an  increased  sale  of  them  may  be  secured  ;  as  in  our 
judgment  is  likely  to  be  done.  "We  would  also  respectfully  request  the 
Board  to  publish  standard  works  in  cheap  forms." 

At  this  meeting  the  pastoral  relation  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Carrell  to  JC~- 
the  congregations  of  McVeytown  and  Newton  Hamilton  was  dissolved 
at  his  request  and  with  consent  of  the  congregations.  And  the  Rev. 
Wm.  M.  Hall  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  having  re- 
ceived and  accepted  a  call  to  the  congregation  of  Bedford,  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


FROM  1845  TO  1858. 

Death  of  Rev.  John  Ilutcheson  and  Rev.  F.  G.  Betts — Changes  among  the  Churches — Mr.  John 
G.  Howell  Again — Obituary  Book — Rev.  Messrs.  Allison  and  White  Received — Mr.  S.  N. 
Howell  Ordained — Judicial  Business — Rev.  James  Y.  McGinuis  and  Rev.  John  White  Called 
— Rev.  William  Adam  Released  from  Spring  Creek  and  Sinking  Creek — Rev.  Dr.  William 
Chester — Presbytery  Opened  by  Rev.  John  Bernheim,  a  Converted  Jew — Rev.  R.  Hamill 
Called,  Ordained  and  Installed — Rev.  Samuel  H.  McDonald — Case  of  Reference — Case  of 
Rev.  B.  H.  Campbell — Rev.  H.  R.  Wilson,  Jr.,  an  Agent — Rev.  G.  W.  Thompson  Received, 
Called  and  Installed — Psalmody— Death  of  Rev.  William  Stuarts — Pastoral  Relation  of  Mr. 
Sterrett  Dissolved — Overture  on  Demission  of  the  Ministry — Rev.  D.  L.  Hughes  Transferred 
— Deaths  of  Rev.  John  Lloyd  and  Rev.  B.  H.  Campbell — Rev.  Messrs.  Merwin,  Curran  and 
Ward  Added  to  the  Roll — Rev.  R.  Hamill  Appointed  Stated  Clerk — Cheap  Religious  Paper 
— Rev.  George  Elliott — Rev.  P.  Hassinger— Posture  in  Public  Prayer — Order  on  Relief  Fund 
— Rev.  Joseph  Smith,  D.  D. — Rev.  S.  Lawrence — Rev.  William  M.  Hall — S.  P.  Barton — Rev. 
Samuel  Miller,  D.  D. — Railroad  Traveling  on  the  Sabbath — National  Presbyterian  Church — 
Deaths  of  Rev.  Messrs.  Hall  and  McGinnis — Colonization — Altoona — Origin  of  the  Presby- 
terian Banner — Dr.  D.  X.  Junkin  Called  to  Hollidaysburg — Boards  of  Foreign  and  Domestic 
Missions — Temperance  Action — Rev.  0.  0.  McClean  Called  and  Settled  at  Huntingdon — Set- 
tlement of  Boundary  Lines — Rev.  R.  Curran's  Pastoral  Relation  Dissolved — Report  by  Dr. 
Linn  on  Education  for  the  Ministry — Action  in  Reference  to  a  Division  of  the  Synod — Rev. 
A.  B.  Clark  Called  to  Altoona — Parsonages — Death's  Doings — Systematic  Benevolence — Itine- 
rant Missionary— Rev.  John  Elliott  First  Itinerant  Missionary — Rev.  David  D.  Clark — Mr. 
J.  H.  .Mathers — Church  at  Tyrone — Rev.  John  Moore  Called — Rev.  Samuel  Lawrence  Re- 
signs his  Charge — Pastoral  Resignations — Rev.  John  M.  Galloway  Called — Rev.  Joseph  Ma- 
hon — Rev.  D.  L.  Hughes'  Pastoral  Relation  Dissolved — Rev.  N.  Shotwell— Rev.  M.  S.  Cul- 
bertson,  a  Foreign  Missionary — Committee  on  Relief  Fund — The  Oath — Temperance  Reso- 
lution. 

THE  year  1845  begins  with  a  record  of  the  death  of  two  of  the 
members  of  Presbytery,  the  Rev.  John  Hutciieson  of  Mifflintown, 
and  the  Rev.  Frederick  G.  Betts  of  Clearfield.  The  former  had  been 
pastor  of  Mifflintown  and  Lost  Creek  congregations  for  forty  years, 
the  latter  of  Clearfield  town  and  Pike  (Curwinsville),  only  a  little  over 
three  years.  Mr.  H.  had  been  long  considered  a  father  in  the  Presby- 
tery. Mr.  Betts  was  one  of  the  youngest  of  its  members,  but  of  great 
promise  of  future  usefulness. 

During  this  year,  especially  the  first  half  of  it,  many  changes 
occurred  in  regard  to  the  churches  and  their  pastors,  and  additions  of 
ministers  to  the  Presbytery,  with  the  loss  of  some  by  removal,  as  well 
as  by  death.     The  principal  business  of  the  Presbytery  during  this 


'V1 

2 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON.  141 

period,  consisted  in  dissolving  pastoral  relations,  constituting  others, 
and  licensing  candidates.  .— 

The  pastoral  relation  of  Rev.  McK.  Williamson  to  the  congregation 
of  Lower  Tuscarora,  was  dissolved  on  the  8th  of  April.  Mr.  Samuel /j, 
N.  Howell,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  was  called  to 
Clearfield  town  and  Pike  congregations ;  the  Rev.  John  White  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Northumberland,  to  Yellow  Creek  and  Martinsburg ; 
the  Rev.  George  D.  Porter  to  Millerstown,  and  Rev.  William  J.  1 
Gibson  to  Sinking  Valley  for  half  his  time.  Heretofore  Mr.  G.  had 
been  supplying  Martinsburg,  in  connection  with  Williamsburg,  his 
pastoral  charge.  The  Rev.  Matthew  Allison  was  called  to  Mifflin- 
town  and  Lost  Creek.  Mr,  Allison  was  a  member  of  the  2d  Presby- 
tery of  New  York.  The  Rev.  Peter  Hassinger  was  called  to  Newton 
Hamilton  and  McVeytown. 

At  this  meeting  a  second  application  was  made  by  Mr.  John  G. 
Howell,  whose  case  was  before  stated,'  to  have  the  action  of  Presby- 
tery repealed,  prohibiting  him  from  preaching  within  the  bounds  of 
the  Presbytery.  At  his  earnest  request,  having  made  suitable  ac- 
knowledgments in  regard  to  the  matter  which  gave  offence  to  the 
Presbytery,  the  prohibition  was  repealed,  and  the  stated  clerk  directed 
to  inform  him  accordingly.  The  following  resolution  was  offered  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Linn,  in  view  of  this  case,  and  adopted,  viz : 

"  As  our  Book  of  Discipline  and  Form  of  Government  designs  that 
marriage  shall  be  solemnized  by  ministers  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  we  disapprove  of  licentiates  solemnizing  marriages,  as 
they  thereby  assume  a  power  not  given  to  them  by  Presbytery." 

The  name  of  the  Frankstown  congregation  was,  at  this  time,  by  re- 
quest, changed  to  Hollidaysburg.  It  was  ordered  that  an  Obituary 
Book  be  kept  by  Presbytery,  in  which  the  decease  of  members  shall 
be  recorded,  with  brief  sketches  of  their  lives,  as  prepared  by  appro- 
priate committees. 

An  adjourned  meeting  of  Presbytery (was  held  at  Alexandria,  on  the 
last  Tuesday  of  June  following  the  stated  Spring  meeting.  At  this 
meeting  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Allison  and  White  were  received  on  the 
customary  testimonials  from  their  respective  Presbyteries,  as  members 
of  this  Presbytery. 

As  most  of  the  parties  interested  in  judicial  cases  which  occurred 
at  this  time  are  either  dead  or  removed,  and  as  no  principle  was  set- 
tled by  them  which  might  be  set  forth  as  example  worthy  of  imita- 
tion, it  would  answer  no  good  purpose  to  make  further  reference  to 


2 


142  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

them.  In  all  of  them  there  was  much  of  human  passions,  and  "  the 
wrath  of  man  which  worketh  not  the  righteousness  of  God."  But 
there  was  business  of  another  character.  It  was  very  agreeable  to 
receive  into  the  Presbytery  such  ministers  as  the  Rev.  James  Y.  Mc- 
Ginnis  and  the  Rev.  John  White,  the  former  being  called  to  the 
church  of  Augwick,  and  the  latter  to  the  church  of  Spruce  Creek  for 
half  his  time. 

The  Rev.  William  Adam,  on  account  of  failing  health  was,  at  his 
own  request  and  with  consent  of  the  congregations,  released  from  his 
pastoral  relations  to  Spring  Creek  and  Sinking  Creek  congregations,"  at 
this  meeting.  By  request  of  the  congregation  of  Millerstown,  the 
Presbytery  consented  that  it  should  be  attached  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Carlisle.  It  was  not  the  least  agreeable  circumstance  connected  with 
this  meeting  to  have  the  presence  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  Chester, 
the  worthy  representative  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and  to  hear 
from  him  of  its  objects  and  necessities.  Presbytery  adopted  unani- 
mously a  resolution  urging  ministers,  elders  and  people,  to  give  im- 
mediate attention  to  the  pressing  wants  of  the  Board. 

The  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  the  Spring  of  1846  was 
held  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Sinking  Valley,  and  was  opened 
with  a  sermon  by  the  Rev.  John  Bernheim,  a  converted  Jew,  from 
Hosea  6:11. 

The  Rev.  B.  H.  Campbell  was  received  as  in  good  standing  by  cer- 
tificate of  dismission  from  the  Presbytery  of  Salem.  Calls  were  pre- 
sented from  Spring  Creek  and  Sinking  Creek  churches  for  Mr.  Robert 
Hamill,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York.  Mr.  H.  being- 
present,  but  not  having  received  his  letter  of  dismission,  the  calls 
were  retained  by  the  Presbytery ;  and  at  the  adjourned  meeting  held 
in  May  following,  put  into  his  hands,  accepted  by  him,  and  at  the 
same  meeting  he  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  Spring  Creek, 
and  a  committee  appointed  to  install  him  over  Sinking  Creek  on  the 
2d  Tuesday  of  June.  ' 

The  Rev.  Samuel  H.  McDonald  was  received  on  certificate  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Carlisle.  A  call  which  had  been  presented  for  him  at 
the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  from  West  Kishacoquillas,  was 
put  into  his  hands,  and  being  accepted,  Messi's.  Hughes,  Peebles  and 
Hassinger  were  appointed  a  committee  to  install  him  at  a  convenient 
time. 

Mr.  David  Wilson,  a  candidate  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery, 
with  a  view  to  the  ministry,  requested  that  his  name  may  be  with- 


HISTORY   OF    THE   PRESBYTERY   OP   HUNTINGDON.  143 

drawn  for  the  present  from  the  list  of  candidates.     His  request  was 
granted. 

A  case  of  reference  from  the  session  of  the  church  of  Martinsburg 
was  presented,  respecting  the  marriage  of  a  member  of  that  church 
with  his  deceased  wife's  sister,  and  the  consideration  of  it  was 
postponed. 

Messrs.  A.  T.  McAlevy  and  John  A.  Campbell  were,  after  exami- 
nation, received  as  candidates  for  the  Gospel  ministry,  and  recom- 
mended to  the  Board  of  Education  for  aid  in  the  pursuit  of  their 
studies. 

A  pro  re  nata  meeting  of  Presbytery  was  held  in  Lewistown,  Septem- 
ber 8,  for  the  purpose  of  investigating  charges  by  common  fame 
against  the  Rev.  B.  H.  Campbell.  The  main  charge  was  of  intoxica- 
tion. The  Presbytery  found  that  there  were  sufficient  grounds  for 
investigation  ;  and  as  the  witnesses  were  chiefly  residents  in  and  about 
Lewistown,  and  the  next  stated  meeting  of  Presbytery  was  to  be  held 
at  a  distance  from  that  place,  appointed  a  commmittee  of  seven  to 
take  testimony,  giving  Mr.  Campbell  notice  of  the  time  and  place  of 
their  meeting,  and  to  report  to  the  meeting  to  be  held  at  Clearfield 
in  October.  Mr.  C.  was  cited  to  appear  and  answer ;  and  the  clerk 
was  ordered  to  cite  any  witnesses  he  might  desire  to  appear  and 
testify  on  his  behalf  before  the  committee. 

Mr.  S.  N.  Howell,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  was 
taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery ;  Mr.  James  Smith,  a  member  of 
the  congregation  of  Hollidaysburg,  was  taken  under  the  care  of  Pres- 
bvterv  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry  ;  and  Mr.  John  W.  Hazlett  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel.  Mr.  S.  N.  Howell  having  accepted  \ 
the  calls  from  Clearfield  and  Pike,  was  ordained,  and  arrangements 
made  for  his  installation  as  pastor  of  those  churches ;  and  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Allison  and  Hassinger  having  also  accepted  the  respective 
calls  presented  for  their  pastoral  services,  committees  were  appointed 
for  their  installation.  The  Rev.  Mr.  White  held  the  calls  from 
Yellow  Creek  and  Martinsburg  under  advisement?  and  afterwards  de- 
clined them. 

The  regular  Fall  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  was  held  at  West  Kish- 
acoquillas,  October  7,  8  and  9.  At  this  meeting  a  considerable  amount 
of  business  was  transacted;  but  most  of  it  pertaining  to  matters  that 
were  not  of  a  very  agreeable  character.  There  were  no  less  than  four 
judicial  cases  which  came  before  Presbytery  by  reference  or  complaint. 
Two  from  the  Session  of  Hollidaysburg  church,  one  from  Pike  or  Cur- 


^P 


144  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

wensville,  and  one  from  West  Kishacoquillas.  The  two  from  Holli- 
daysburg  were  parts  of  the  same  transaction,  growing  out  of  the  same 
causes ;  the  other  two  originating  in  personal  differences  between 
members  of  the  church. 

The  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  the  Fall,  at  Clearfield,  was 
\  opened  with  a  sermon  by  Mr.  James  Smith,  a  candidate  for  licensure ; 
the  popular  sermon  appointed  him  at  a  previous  meeting.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell, who  was  under  charges,  and  whose  case  had  been  commenced 
at  the  special  meeting  of  Presbytery  held  in  September  at  Lewistown, 
^T)  not  being  present,  sent  a  request  by  Eev.  Joshua  MooRE'for  a  dissolu- 
tion of  the  pastoral  relation  subsisting  between  him  and  the  congrega- 
tion of  Lower  Tuscarora.  It  appearing  that  the  congregation  had 
notice,  and  concurred  in  the  request,  it  was  granted.  Also,  by  letter, 
Mr.  Campbell  requested  that  Mr.  Moore  might  be  appointed  to  con- 
duct the  trial  in  his  behalf,  in  case  it  should  be  issued  at  this  time. 
The  Presbytery,  believing  that  he  expected  and  wished  his  case  to  be 
issued  at  this  time,  resolved  to  proceed,  and  Mr.  Moore  was  appoint- 
ed, as  requested,  to  act  in  his  behalf. 

Mr.  Moore,  the  representative  of  Mr.  Campbell,  being  asked  if  the 
accused  plead  guilty  or  not  guilty  ?  and  gave  as  answer  the  following, 
viz:  "The  case  being  taken  up  on  general  rumor,  it  devolves  on  the 
Presbytery  to  prove  it."  On  being  further  asked  whether  he  was 
prepared  to  proceed  in  the  case?     Answered,  "  Not  prepared." 

The  Presbytery  then  appointed  an  adjourned  meeting  to  be  held  at 
Lewistown  on  the  10th  of  November,  and  ordered  a  second  citation 
to  be  issued  to  Mr.  C.  to  appear  and  answer  to  the  charges ;  with 
notice  that  in  case  of  his  non-appearance  Presbytery  would  proceed 
against  him  as  directed  in  the  Book  of  Discipline. 

At  this  time  (October  8,  1846)  Mr.  James  Smith,  a  candidate  under 
the  care  of  Presbytery,  having  passed  through  all  his  trials  to  the 
.satisfaction  of  Presbytery,  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel,  and  Eev. 
/y   McK.  Williamson  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Iowa. 

The  adjourned  meeting  was  held  at  Lewistown  at  the  time  appoint- 
ed. The  principal  business  was  to  issue  the  case  of  Mr.  Campbell. 
He  was  again  absent,  but  by  letter  to  Mr.  Moore  gave  reasons  for  his 
absence,  which  were  accepted  by  the  Presbytery.  In  said  letter  he 
acknowledged  the  truth  of  the  allegations  against  him — that  he  drank 
ale,  and  afterwards  some  brandy  to  correct  the  sickness  arising  from 
the  use  of  the  ale,  and  he  was  overcome. 

The  Presbytery  then  adopted  the  following  resolution : 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON'.  145 

"  Resolved,  That  the  letter  of  Mr.  Campbell  be  considered  as  an  admis- 
sion on  his  part,  of  the  truth  of  the  charge,  and  an  acknowledgment  that 
he  was  intoxicated  in  Lewistown  on  the  14th  of  last  August." 

A  committee  of  five,  three  ministers  and  two  elders,  were  appointed 
to  prepare  a  minute  expressive  of  the  mind  of  Presbytery  in  this  case. 
which  brought  in  the  following  minute,  which,  after  considerable  dis- 
cussion, was  adopted,  viz  : 

"Whereas,  The  Kev.  B.  H.  Campbell  has  acknowledged  the  fact  of 
his  being  intoxicated,  and  has  expressed  his  regret  and  deep  sorrow  for  hi> 
offence,  which  from  all  that  Presbytery  can  learn,  was  not  a  repetition  of 
an  old  offense,  nor  has  been  repeated  since  ;  Presbjrtery  sympathizing  with 
Mr.  C.  in  his  bodily  infirmity,  and  personal  trials,  would  not  harshly  cen- 
sure him,  nor  confound  his  case  with  that  of  a  common  transgressor. 
Aware,  however,  that  the  cause  of  our  Divine  Redeemer  is  greatly  in- 
terested in  the  faithful  administration  of  discipline,  which  cannot  allow  u> 
to  exculpate  even  "  a  brother  who  has  been  overtaken  with  a  fault,"  while 
we  are  far  from  being  willing  to  justify  unmerited  public  censure,  we  still 
feel  constrained  for  the  honor  of  our  Master,  and  the  peace  and  purity  of 
the  church,  to  pass  the  following  judgment  in  this  case,  viz  :  That  the  Rev. 
B.  H.  Campbell  be  and  hereby  is  censured  as  guilty  of  a  serious  misde- 
meanor ;  that  Mr.  C.  be  informed  by  the  Moderator  of  the  Presbytery  of 
this  sentence,  and  that  he  shall  notify  Presbytery  of  his  acquiescence  in  it. 
Presbytery  would  also  affectionately  advise'  Mr.  Campbell,  and  admonish 
him  totally  to  abstain  from  every  portion  of  drinks  which  may  intoxicate, 
lest  having  been  once  overcome  he  may  again  be  seduced,  and  in  all  cases 
to  use  nothing  even  as  a  medicine  (though  recommended  by  members  of 
the  medical  faculty)  which  may  have  a  tendency  to  unhinge  the  mind,  or 
prevent  him  from  exercising  that  self-possession  which  is  demanded  of 
every  minister  of  Jesus  Christ." 

Mr.  John  C.  Barr  was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  who 
was  pursuing  his  studies  at  Tuscarora  Academy  with  a  view  to  the 
ministry,  and  recommended  for  aid  to  the  Board  of  Education.  The 
Synod  having  recommended  that  missionary  meetings  be  held  during 
the  winter  in  the  Presbyteries,  and  that  the  services  of  Rev.  Henry 
R.  Wilson,  Jr.,  be  procured  at  these  meetings  as  far  as  practicable : 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Moore  was  appointed  to  correspond  with  Mr.  Wilson 
and  invite  him  to  our  bounds.  Mr.  Wilson  was  then  an  agent  of  the 
Board  of  Missions.  • 

The  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  April,  1847,  was  held  at  the 
East   Kishacoquillas   Church.      Not  much  business  out  of    ordinary 
routine  of  Presbyterial  business  demanded  the  attention  of  Presby 
tery.     Some  changes  only  are  to  be  recorded  in  regard  to  pastors, 

19 


146  HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESBYTERY   OF   HUNTINGDON. 


O     Cl 

Gi 


churches,  and  licentiates.  The  Eev.  George  W.  Thompson  was  re- 
3eived  from  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland,  and  a  call  was  pre- 
sented for  him  from  Lower  Tuscarora  congregation,  put  into  his  hands 
and  accepted  by  him.  The  Eev.  Messrs.  Jardine  and  Allison  were 
appointed  to  install  him  at  a  time  to  be  agreed  on  among  themselves. 

The  pastoral  relation  between  Eev.  John  White  and  the  congrega- 
tion of  Spruce  Creek,  was  dissolved  at  his  request.  Upon  which,  the 
elder  from  that  congregation  requested  that  a  committee  might  be 
appointed  to  visit  that  congregation,  with  a  view  of  reconciling  the 
difficulties  in  reference  to  church  Psalmody.  The  request  was  granted, 
and  Messrs.  Linn  and  Gibson,  ministers,  and  John  Kerr,  elder,  were 
designated  that  committee.  Mr.  George  Boal  was  afterwards  sub- 
stituted for  Mr.  Kerr.  In  that  church  for  some  years  there  had  been 
two  parties  in  reference  to  Psalmody,  and  for  some  time  nearly  equally 
divided.  The  one  party  was  for  the  exclusive  use  of  Eouse's  version  of 
the  Psalms  in  church  services,  and  the  other  for  the  use  of  Watts' 
version  of  the  Psalms,  with  hymns.  We  have  no  recollection  of  the 
particular  proceedings  of  this  committee  at  their  meeting  with  the 
congregation,  to  effect  a  compromise  between  the  parties,  but  we 
know  that  the  end  designed  was  not  effected,  for  the  same  difficulties 
continued  to  exist  till  the  congregation  was  divided,  a  few  years  after- 
wards into  the  1st  and  2d  congregations  of  Spruce  Creek.  As  has 
always  been  the  result  in  similar  cases,  the  congregation  using  Psalms 
and  Hymns  continued  to  increase,  and  the  other  to  be  gradually 
diminished  by  deaths  and  removals,  till  it  became  extinct.  We  sup- 
pose that  the  compromise  proposed  by  the  committee  was  to  divide 
the  time  on  the  Sabbath  between  the  use  of  Eouse's  version  and  the 
Hymns.  This  proposition  was  rejected  by  the  old  side,  no  doubt  from 
principle  in  the  first  place,  and  as  among  them  were  some  very  fore- 
seeing men,  they  knew  that  if  they  permitted  the  Hymns  to  be  sung 
in  the  church  at  all,  it  would  soon  be  as  between  Eouse  and  the 
Hymns,  like  the  house  of  David  and  the  house  of  Saul. 

Mr.  John  W.  Hazlett,  a  licentiate,  was  dismissed  to  put  himself 
under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Beaver.  And  Mr.  James  Smith, 
also  a  licentiate  of  this  Presbytery,  was  dismissed  to  place  himself 
under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Clarion. 

At  a  special  or  pro  re  nata  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  held  at  Belle- 
tbnte,  July  7th,  Eev.  S.  N.  Howell  was  released  from  his  pastoral 
relation  to  the  churches  of  Clearfield  and  Pike.  The  meeting  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  in  October  of  this  year,  has  on  record  but 


2 


HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  147 

few  things  that  are  of  sufficient  general  interest  to  record  here.  The 
chief  business  at  this  session  of  the  Presbytery  was  of  a  local  charac- 
ter, with  the  exception  of  a  few  items.  The  most  important  items  of 
business  were  presented  in  the  report  of  the  committee  appointed  on 
the  minutes  of  the  preceding  General  Assembly.  A  committee,  as 
suggested  by  the  Assembly,  was  appointed  to  have  pastoral  supervision 
of  the  candidates  for  the  gospel  ministry  under  the  care  of  Presby- 
tery :  to  report  annually  to  the  Presbytery.  An  item  in  the  commit- 
tees report,  respecting  the  demission  of  the  ministerial  office,  was 
postponed  till  the  next  stated  meeting.  A  committee  of  three  was 
appointed  on  the  subject  of  Parochial  Schools,  namely,  Messrs.  Moore, 
Woods  and  Hughes. 

The  following  minute  was  adopted  in  reference  to  the  interests  of 
the  Board  of  Education  : 

"Whereas,  The  Board  of  Education  are  unable  to  send  an  agent  to 
visit  the  churches  of  this  Presbytery  the  coming  winter;  And  tvhereas,  Mr. 
Sterrett  agrees  to  visit  as  a  voluntary  agent  such  of  the  churches  as  by 
their  pastors  shall  express  such  a  desire ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  this  Presbytery  cordially  approve  of  the  kind  expression 
of  Mr.  Sterrett,  and  recommend  to  the  churches  the  plan  suggested." 

The  church  of  Spruce  Creek  continued  to  be  divided  and  agitated 
on  the  subject  of  Psalmody.  The  majority  of  the  Session  were  in 
favor  of  the  exclusive  use  of  the  old  Psalms  in  the  public  worship : 
and  the  majority  of  the  private  members  of  the  church  in  favor  of  the 
use  of  Psalms  and  Hymns.  Mr.  Adam  Rankin  complained  to  Presby- 
tery against  two  resolutions  passed  by  the  majority  of  the  Session  on 
this  subject.  When  the  case  came  before  Presbytery,  the  complaint 
of  Mr.  Rankin  was  sustained ;  after  which  a  committee  was  appoint- 
ed to  confer  with  the  parties,  and  draft  a  minute  expressive  of  the 
sense  of  the  Presbytery  in  reference  to  the  whole  case.  This  commit- 
tee reported  the  next  day,  as  follows : 

"  Your  committee  have  had  a  free  conversation  with  the  representatives 
of  partiee  in  the  congregation  of  Spruce  Creek,  and  with  a  number  of  mem- 
bers of  both  sides  of  the  question  of  Psalmody,  and  would  recommend  the 
adoption  of  the  following  resolutions  : 

1st.  Resolved,  That  in  sustaining  the  complaint  of  Mr.  Rankin,  Presby- 
tery would  cast  no  blame  on  the  Session. 

2d.  fiesolved,  That  it  is  expedient  to  divide  the  congregation. 

3d.  Resolved,  That  the  majority  at  the  late  vote  on  the  question  of 
Psalmody  are  the  congregation  of  Spruce  Creek ;  and  that  they  be  directed 
to  meet  on  the  4th  Satnrday  of  October,  and  elect  additional  elders,  if  such 


J 


148  HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

addition  shall  be  deemed  necessary ;  and  that  Mr.  D.  McKinney  be  ap- 
pointed to  meet  with  them,  and  moderate  the  meeting,  and  ordain  the  new 
elders. 

4th.  Resolved,  That  the  new  congregation  shall  be  known  as  the  2d  con- 
gregation of  Spruce  Creek,  and  that  Mr.  Moore  be  appointed  to  meet  with 
them  on  the  first  Saturday  in  November,  and  attend  to  all  duties  needful  to 
the  future  organization." 

/Ty  The  Rev.  John  Fleming  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Blairs- 
ville,  to  which  Presbytery  he  had  been  dismissed  with  the  usual  testi- 
monials from  this  Presbytery,  and  therefore,  on  motion,  the  usual  ex- 
amination on  receiving  new  members  was  omitted. 

1848,  APRIL  MEETING. 

The  stated  Spring  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  was  held  at  Mifrlin- 
town  the  second  Tuesday  of  April.  The  first  matter  of  record  was 
the  death  of  the  Rev.  William  Stuart  on  the  morning  of  the  30th  of 
March  preceeding,  in  the  89th  year  of  his  age.  He  had  long  been  the 
oldest  member  of  Presbytery.  The  history  of  the  Presbytery  duiing 
this  year  consists  principally  in  the  dissolution  of  pastoral  relations, 
forming  new  ones,  the  reception  of  candidates,  and  records  of  death 
among  the  members.  The  pastoral  relation  of  Rev.  L>.  Sterrett  to 
the  congregation  of  Shaver's  Creek  was  dissolved  after  a  continuance 
of  fourteen  years  with  great  success  and  acceptance.  Messrs.  Joseph 
P.  Moore  and  Samuel  J.  Milliken  were  taken  under  care  of  the  Pres- 
bytery as  candidates  for  the  ministry.  The  Rev.  J.  McKinney  gave 
notice  of  his  desire  to  resign  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregation  of 
Alexandria.  Spruce  Creek  1st  and  Pine  Grove  congregations  pre- 
i  sented  calls  for  the  pastoi"al  services  of  Rev.  Daniel  L.  Hughes  of 
Little  Valley.  The  General  Assembly  of  1847  sent  down  an  overture 
to  the  Presbyteries,  proposing  to  add  a  section  to  the  15th  Chapter  of 
the  Form  of  Government,  providing  for  the  voluntary  demission  of 
the  ministerial  office.  The  matter  being  deferred  at  a  previous  meet- 
ing till  this  time,  was  taken  under  consideration,  and  the  question 
being,  Shall  such  a  section  be  added  ?  was  answered  in  the  negative. 

An  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  was  held  at  Sprvfce  Creek 

church  on  the  13th  of  June  following.     At  that  meeting  the  pastoral 

f  relation  of  the  Rev.  D.  L.  Hughes  to  Little  Valley  congregation  was 

dissolved,  and  he  permitted  to  accept  the  calls  from  Spruce  Creek  and 

Pine  Grove  congregations,  over  which  he  was  installed. 

The  application  of  Rev.  J.  McKinney  for  permission  to  resign  the 
charge  of  Alexandria  was   granted,   the   congregation    having  made 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  149 


7 


known  their  acquiescence  in  the  case.  Mr.  James  H.  Orbison,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  church  of  Huntingdon,  was  received  under  the  care  of  the 
Presbytery  as  a  candidate  for  the  gospel  ministry. 

At  the  stated  Fall  meeting  of  this  year,  held  at  Waynesburg,  Mifflin 
county,  Mr.  Thomas  C.  Porter,  a  licentiate  of  this  Presbytery,  re-'' 
quested  and  obtained  a  dismission,  to  put  himself  under  the  care  of 
the  German  Reformed  Classis  of  Lebanon.  The  Rev.  John  McKix- 
ney  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Maumee;  and  Rev.  James 
Smith,  who  had  been  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Clarion  the  year 
before,  returned  to  Presbytery  with  suitable  testimonials  from  the 
former  Presbytery.  The  Rev.  Alexander  Boyd  was  received  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie,  and  calls  were  put  into  his  hands  from  Fruit  Hill 
and  Mt.  Pleasant  congregations,  which  were  accepted  by  him,  and 
over  which  he  was  installed  by  committees  of  Presbytery. 

Mr.  Richard  Morrow,  a  member  of  the  congregation  of  Upper  Tus- 
carora,  was  taken  under  care  of  Presbytery  as  a  candidate  for  the 
Gospel  Ministry. 

At  the  first  stated  meeting  of  Presbytery  in  April,  1849,  it  was  the 
mournful  duty  of  the  Presbytery  to  record  the  deaths  of  Rev.  Messrs.^_^ 
John  Loyd  and  B.  H.  Campbell.  The  former,  a  missionary  to  China, 
died  December  6,  1848,  and  the  latter  December  31,  same  year.  Suit- 
able notice  of  these  brethren  was  taken  by  the  Presbytery,  which  will 
be  found  in  sketches  of  their  lives  hereafter  to  be  given. 

The  Rev.  Messrs.  Miles  J*.  Merwin  was  received  from  the  Presby-  jr 
tery  of  Erie,  Richard  Curran  from  the  Presbytery  of  West  Jersey,  \ 
and  Israel  W.  Ward  from  the  Presbytery  of  New  Lisbon. 

Mr.  Gibson  resigned  as  stated  clerk  of  the  Presbytery,  and  Rev. 
Robert  Hamill  was  appointed  in  his  place. 

Mr.  Curran  was  called  to  Shavers  Creek,  Mr.  Ward  to  Spruce 
Creek  2d,  and  Mr.  James  Smith  to  Little  Valley ;  and  Mr.G-EORGi; 
Elliott,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Lisbon,  was  called  to 
Alexandria. 

The  Rev.  Joshua  Moore  was  appointed  to  prepare  an  obituary 
notice  of  Rev.  B.  H.  Campbell;  and  Dr.  D.  McKixnev  of  Rev.  Johx 
Loyd,  to  be  inserted  in  the  Memoranda  Book  of  Presbytery.  At  this 
time  the  first  movement  was  made  to  have  a  cheap  religious  paper,  by 
memorializing  the  General  Assembly  on  the  subject. 

Mr.  Joseph  L.  Lower  was  taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  as  a 
candidate  for  the  ministry.  It  was  resolved  to  hold  an  adjourned 
meeting  of  the  Presbytery  at  Alexandria  on  the  4th  Tuesday  of  June. 


150  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

At  this  meeting  Mr.  George  Elliott,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery 
of  New  Lisbon,  who  had.  been  called  to  Alexandria,  was  received,  or- 
dained and  installed. 

The  Rev.  P.  Hassinger  resigned  at  this  meeting  his  pastoral  charges 
of  Waynesburg  and  Newton  Hamilton.  And  Mr.  Nourse  gave  notice 
of  his  desire  to  resign  the  charge  of  Perryville  congregation.  Mr. 
Merwin  was  called  to  Clearfield  for  half  his  time,  and  arrangements 
)  made  for  his  installation.  Mr.  Samuel  T.  Wilson,  a  member  of  the 
congregation  of  Hollidaysburg,  was  taken  under  the  care  of  Presby- 
tery, as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry. 

Mr.  Nourse's  pastoral  relation  to  the  church  of  Perryville,  was  dis- 
solved October  2d,  he  having  given  previous  notice  to  the  Presbytery 
of  his  design,  and  the  congregation  acquiescing  in  his  desire. 

Mr.  Sterrett  received  a  call  to  the  united  congregations  of  "W^nes- 
burg  and  Newton  Hamilton,  which  he  accepted,  and  committees  were 
appointed  to  install  him  on  the  3d  Friday  of  January  next,  which 
was  attended  to  at  the  time  appointed,  at  Newton  Hamilton;  and  at 
Waynesburg  on  the  4th  Friday  of  same  month. 

The  Eev.  George  Gray,  by  letter,  asked  leave  to  resign  the  charge 
of  Upper  Tuscarora  congregation  on  account  of  ill  health,  and  the 
congregation  was  cited  to  answer. 

Mr.  Silas  Hazlett,  a  member  of  the  church  of  Canonsburg,  on 
application,  was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  after  the 
usual  examination,  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry. 

The  committee  previously  appointed  on  the  minutes  of  the  General 
Assembly  reported,  directing  the  attention  of  the  Presbytery  to 
several  items  of  important  business,  viz :  The  subject  of  Church 
Music;  and  in  regard  to  the  posture  of  the  congregation  in  public- 
prayer.  The  following  resolution  passed  by  the  General  Assembly  of 
1849,  will  be  found  on  the  255  page  of  their  minutes  : 

"Therefore,  this  General  Assembly  Resolve,  that  the  practice  in  ques- 
tion (sitting  in  prayer)  be  considered  greviously  improper,  whenever  the 
infirmities  of  the  worshipper  do  not  render  it  necessary,  and  that  ministers 
be  required  to  reprove  it,  with  earnest  and  persevering  admonition." 

This  action  of  the  General  Assembly  was  in  answer  to  an  overture 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  asking  the  Assembly  to  adopt 
measures  for  arresting  or  abating  the  growing  evil  of  sitting  in  public 
prayer. 

The  committee  of  the  Presbytery  were  specially  directed  to  report 
on  the  action  of  the  General  Assembly  in  regard  to  a  fund  for  the 


HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  151 

support  of  aged  and  infirm  ministers,  and  the  widows  and  orphans  of 
deceased  ministers.  On  this  subject  the  Presbytery  passed  the  fol- 
lowing resolution  : 

"  That  it  be  enjoined  on  each  of  our  congregations  to  make  a  collection 
annually,  according  to  the  resolution  of  the  Assembly,  p.  267  of  the 
Minutes." 

A  treasurer  was  specially  appointed  for  this  fund  by  the  Presbytery, 
to  whom  all  contributions  were  to  be  sent,  and  Dr.  McKinney  was 
appointed  the  treasurer.  The  celebrated  Kev.  William  L.  McCalla 
was  present,  as  a  corresponding  member,  at  this  meeting  of  the  Pres- 
bytery. At  this  time  he  was  the  stated  supply  of  the  church  of 
Bedford.  A  man  of  some  eccentricities,  but  uncommon  genius, 
power,  and  piety.  Those  who  knew  him  best,  loved  and  admired  him 
most.     A  noble  champion  for  the  truth. 

The  April  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  1850  was  held  at  Hollidays- 
burg.  The  Rev.  Louis  W.  Williams  was  received  from  the  Presbytery 
of  Erie.  The  Rev.  Joseph  Smith,  D.  D.,  of  the  Presbytery  of  Balti- 
more, was  present  as  an  agent  of  the  Board  of  Missions,  and  at  an 
appointed  time  addressed  the  Presbytery  on  the  subject,  and  as  he 
proposed  personally  to  visit  the  churches  in  reference  to  his  object,  a 
committee  was  raised  to  designate  a  plan  of  visitation  among  the 
churches.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Smith  died  only  two  or  three  years  ago  at 
Greensburg,  Westmoreland  county,  Pa.,  the  place  of  his  last  pastoral 
charge.  He  wrote  several  histories  of'portions  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church — particularly  of  "Old  Redstone."  He  was  an  eloquent 
preacher,  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  of  much  popularity.  He  was  a 
son  of  one  of  the  first  Presbyterian  ministers  who  settled  west  of  the 
Allegheny  mountains.  Just  at  this  time  there  were  several  ministers 
in  the  Presbytery  without  charges,  but  who  were  travelling  without 
the  bounds  of  Presbytery  in  view  of  settlements.  Notice  is  taken  in 
the  minutes  of  letters  received  from  each  of  these  brethren,  giving 
an  account  of  themselves  and  their  labors.  This  fact  is  noted  with  a 
design  to  show  how  careful  these  brethren  were  to  observe  Presbyterial 
order  in  recognizing  their  subjection  to  their  brethren  in  the  Lord, 
and  as  an  example  to  those  who  may  come  after.  These  brethren 
were  Rev.  Messrs.  Nourse,  White  and  Hassinger.  Mr.  White  was 
at  the  same  time  dismissed,  at  his  request,  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Baltimore,  within  the  bounds  of  which  he  expected  to  be  settled. 

Rev.  William  Adam,  a  minister  of  the  Presbytery,  and  who  through 
bodily  infirmity  was  unable  to  perform  pastoral  duties,  and  was  known 


1 


1 


152  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON. 

to  be  permanently  settled  as  a  bookseller  within  the  bounds  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Baltimore,  was  advised  to  take  a  dismission  and  con- 
nect himself  with  said  Presbytery,  according  to  order  of  the  General 
Assembly  that  ministers  should  connect  themselves  to  the  Presby- 
teries within  the  bounds  of  which  they  permanently  resided. 

Mr.  Silas  Hazlett  requested  Presbytery  to  assign  him  pieces  of 
trial,  and  then  dismiss  him  to  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Beaver  as 
a  candidate  for  the  gospel  ministry.     Which  requests  were  granted. 

The  Rev.  John  Peebles,  pastor  of  the  church  of  Huntingdon,  re- 
quested that  his  pastoral  relation  should  be  dissolved.  The  represen- 
tative of  the  church  in  Presbytery  having  stated  that  the  congregation 
were  duly  notified  of  Mr.  Peebles'  purpose,  and  consented  to  his 
request ;  the  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved. 

A  call  was  at  the  this  time  presented  to  Presbytery  from  the  con- 
gregation of  Perryville,  Mifflin  county,  for  the  pastoral  services  of  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Lawrence,  of  the  Presbytery  of  "West  Jersey,  which 
being  found  in  order,  was  retained  in  the  hands  of  Presbytery  till  Mr. 
L.  should  obtain  his  dismission  from  said  Presbytery,  to  connect  him- 
self with  this  Presbytery. 

The  Rev.  Wm.  M.  Hall  forwarded  to  the  Presbytery  a  certificate  of 
his  standing  and  dismission  from  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  accom- 
panied with  a  letter,  which  he  requested  might  be  spread  upon  the 
minutes.  After  some  consideration  on  the  part  of  the  Presbytery, 
the  Rev.  James  S.  Woods  and  Dr.  Samuel  McClay  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  draft  a  minute  on  the  application  of  Mr.  Hall.  The 
committee  in  due  time  made  the  following  report,  which  was  accept- 
ed and  adopted,  viz : 

"  The  Rev.  Mr.  Hall  being  unable,  from  a  recent  injury,  to  be  personal- 
ly present  with  us,  and  having  applied  by  letter  to  be  received  into  tliis 
Presbytery,  and  having  forwarded  to  this  body  the  certificate  of  his  dis- 
mission from  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  1st.  That  the  Rev.  W.  M.  Hall  be  received  as  a  member  of 
this  Presbytery  without  the  usual  examination,  he  having  formerly  been  a 
member  of  this  body,  and  that  his  letter,  together  with  the  notice  accom- 
panying it,  be  spread  upon  our  minutes. 

Resolved,  2d.  That  Presbytery  tender  to  brother  H.  their  deepest  and 
cordial  sympathy  in  the  afflictive  dispensations  of  divine  providence  which 
have  obliged  him  to  retire  from  the  active  duties  of  the  ministry  ;  and  they 
entirely  approve  of  his  course  in  pursuing  that  path  of  usefulness  to  which 
ho  has  been  directed  in  the  providence  of  God,  and  their  sincere  desire  for 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  153 

his  speedy  restoration  to  that  state  of  health  and  vigor  to  which  he  has  so 
long  been  a  stranger." 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  April,  1845,  a  young  man,  S.  R. 
Barton,  was  taken  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery,  and  recommend- 
ed for  aid  to  the  Board  of  Education.  In  October,  1845,  the  treasurer 
of  Presbytery  was  directed  to  pay  $18.75  from  the  moneys  in  his  hands 
for  the  Board  of  Education.  At  the  meeting*of  the  Presbytery  in 
April,  1850,  the  following  record  was  made:  "  Mr.  Barton,  a  candidate 
under  our  care,  having  intimated  it  as  his  wish,  his  name  was  with- 
drawn from  the  list  of  beneficiaries  held  by  the  committee  of  pastoral 
supervision."  If  henceforth  Mr.  B.  intended  to  depend  upon  his  own 
means  for  the  finishing  his  preparation  for  the  ministry,  his  example 
is  commended  to  the  imitation  of  others  in  like  circumstances,  that  is, 
who  can  fall  back  on  their  private  resources. 

The  following  resolutions  were  adopted  in  reference  to  the  death  of 
the  Rev.  Samuel  Miller,  D.  D.,  late  Professor  of  Ecclesiastical  History 
and  Church  Government  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton : 

"  Whereas,  it  has  pleased  Divine  Providence  to  remove  from  his  post  of 
eminent  usefulness  the  Rev.  Samuel  Miller,  D.  D.,  we,  in  common  with 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  large,  experience  a  great,  perhaps  an  irrepara- 
ble loss ;  and  in  this  event  we  deem  it  proper  to  take  the  opportunity  to 
express  our  sincere  and  deep  regard  for  the  memory  of  that  venerable  ser- 
vant of  God  and  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  who  for  so  many  years  occupied 
the  eminent  station  of  a  teacher  in  our  oldest  school  of  the  prophets. 

It  was  the  privilege  of  the  most  of  us  to  sit  for  years  at  the  feet  of  this 
distinguished  father  in  the  Church,  and  from  him  to  receive  our  first  lessons 
in  Church  History,  and  Church  Government,  and  his  counsels,  discourses 
and  care.  His  example  and  influence,  and  eminent  usefulness,  embalm  his 
name  in  our  hearts." 

An  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  was  held  at  Huntingdon 
on  the  2d  Tuesday  of  June  following  the  stated  Spring  meeting  in 
April.  The  pi'incipal  object  of  the  meeting  was  to  license  and  ordain, 
as  an  Evangelist,  Mr.  James  H.  Orbison,  if  the  way  should  be  clear,  in 
view  of  his  going  as  a  missionary  to  a  foreign  field.  Mr.  Orbison  was 
accordingly  licensed  and  ordained,  having  passed  through  all  parts 
of  trial  to  the  satisfaction  of  Presbytery.  In  those  services  the  Rev. 
Daniel  L.  Hughes  preached  the  sermon;  Rev.  James  Linn,  D.  D., 
presided,  proposed  the  constitutional  questions,  and  made  the  ordain- 
ing prayer ;  and  Dr.  McKinney  gave  the  charge  to  the  newly  ordain- 
ed Evangelist. 

20 


154  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON. 

The  following  question  was  submitted  to  Presbytery  for  their  decis- 
ion, viz :  "  Can  a  church  member,  consistently  with  his  or  her  profes- 
sion, travel  in  the  cars  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  (or  any  railroad), 
to  and  from  the  house  of  God  on  the  Sabbath  day?"  After  some  dis- 
cussion Messrs.  Gibson,  Thompson,  ministers,  and  Mr.  John  Porter, 
elder,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  draft  an  answer  to  the  question  ; 
and  they  were  required  to  report  the  following  morning. 

The  committee  reported  the  next  morning,  and  their  report  was 
accepted  and  adopted,  and  is  as  follows : 

"  No  member  of  the  Church  can  consistently  travel  on  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  on  the  Sabbath  day  for  any  purposes  but  those  of  necessity  and 
mercy.  He  protests  against  the  ordinary  use  of  the  road  as  a  desecration  of 
the  day,  and  he  cannot  employ  it  even  as  a  means  of  conveyance  to  and 
from  the  house  of  God  without  nullifying  his  testimony,  and  giving  coun- 
tenance to  the  whole  system  of  Sabbath  desecration,  as  determined  upon  by 
a  majority  of  its  stockholders.  The  fact  that  it  is  a  great  convenience,  and 
that  otherwise  a  church  member  would  be  put  to  much  inconvenience  in 
going  to  and  returning  from  the  place  of  public  worship,  is  no  sufficient 
justification,  unless  the  commandments  of  God  are  only  to  be  observed 
when  it  suits  our  convenience,  and  we  are  under  no  obligation  to  practice 
self-denial  in  keeping  God's  commandments.  The  goodness  of  the  object 
aimed  at  will  not  justify  the-  means  employed  to  arrive  at  it.  This  is  a 
popish  doctrine  long  since  exploded  among  protestants.  The  end  does  not 
justify  the  means.  Neither  will  the  plea  of  its  being  otherwise  impractica- 
ble for  a  Church  member  to  get  to  the  place  of  public  worship  be  a  suffi- 
cient justification.  If  the  performance  of  a  duty  becomes  a  natural  impos- 
sibility, without  being  guilty  of  a  moral  evil,  then  it  is  no  longer  a  duty, 
and  God  will  accept  the  will  for  the  deed.  It  is  recommended  to  the 
pastors  of  churches,  especially  those  along  the  line  of  the  railroad,  to  warn 
their  church  members  against  the  temptation  to  violate  the  Sabbath  day,  by 
travelling  on  the  road  on  that  day,  for  any  distances  or  purposes,  but  those 
already  excepted." 

It  was  ordered  that  this  report  should  be  published  in  The  Presby- 
terian and  Presbyterian  Advocate. 

The  latter  half  of  the  Ecclesiastical  year  of  1850  affords  little  mat- 
ter for  record  beyond  the  ordinary  and  usual  Presbyterial  business. 
Some  names  were  added  to  the  roll  of  Presbytery,  and  some  members 
were  dismissed.  The  Rev.  Lowman  P.  Hawes  was  received  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Ohio,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  church  at  Hunting- 
don. The  church  of  Pike,  Clearfield  county,  requested  and  obtained 
leave  to  change  its  name  to  Curwinsville.  The  Rev.  James  H.  Orbison, 
by  request,  was  dismissed  to  one  of   the  Presbyteries  in   Northern 


4 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  155 

India.  Mr.  Isaac  Stine,  a  member  of  the  church  of  Little  Augwick, 
•was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  as  a  candidate  for  the  min- 
istry, and  recommended  to  the  Board  of  Education  for  aid  in  pursuing 
his  studies.  The  case  of  a  portion  of  the  Session  of  a  church  shutting 
the  door  of  the  church  against  their  stated  supply,  was  reported  to 
Presbytery,  of  which  act  the  Presbytery  highly  disapproved,  and  ex- 
pressed their  disapprobation  in  a  formal  resolution. 

An  adjourned  meeting  was  held  during  the  sessions  of  the  Synod  at 
Carlisle,  October  the  21st.  At  this  meeting  the  Rev.  Peter  Hassinger 
was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  and  the  Rev.  James  J. 
Hamilton  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland,  and  a 
call  which  had  been  at  a  previous  meeting  presented  for  him  from  the 
congregation  of  Curwinsville,  put  into  his  hands,  accepted  by  him, 
and  arrangements  made  for  his  installation.  So  closes  the  history  of 
the  Presbytery  for  the  year  1850. 

The  stated  Spring  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  the  year  1851  was 
held  at  Bellefonte.  There  were  some  changes  made  as  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbytery  at  this  time.  The  Rev.  John  Fleming  was 
dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Peoria,  and  the  Rev.  William  Adam  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Baltimore. 

Mr.  Thomas  Ward,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Lisbon, 
having  been  permitted  to  labor  within  the  bounds  of  Presbytery,  in 
view  of  much  unoccupied  missionary  ground  within  our  limits.  Pres- 
bytery resolved  to  petition  the  Board  of  Missions  to  appoint  him  a 
missionary  and  Colporteur  to  labor  for  six  months  under  the  direction 
of  Presbytery,  and  appropriate  towards  his  support  $75  for  said  period. 
And  in  case  of  his  declining  this  service,  then  that  the  Board  appoint 
some  suitable  person  for  the  field.  About  this  time  was  much  agitated 
the  building  of  a  National  Presbyterian  Church  at  the  City  of  Wash- 
ington. The  Presbytery  favored  the  project,  and  recommended  the 
object  to  the  liberality  of  the  congregations. 

An  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  was  held  at  Lewistown,  on 
the  4th  Tuesday  of  June  following  the  stated  meeting,  when  Mr.  J. 
Patterson  Devor  was  taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  as  a  candi- 
date for  the  ministry,  and  recommended  to  the  Board  of  Education 
for  aid.  The  Rev.  William  M.  Hall  was  dismissed  to  the  Presby- 
tery of  Carlisle,  and  Mr.  Samuel  T.  Wilson,  a  candidate  under  the  jy^ 
care  of  Presbytery,  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel. 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  October  it  became  the 
painful  duty  of  the   Presbytery  to   record    the   deaths   of  the  Rev. 


156  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON. 

Messrs.  William  M.  Hall  and  James  Y.  McGinnis.  The  former  died 
on  the  28th,  and  the  latter  on  the  31st  of  August  preceding.  "Suitable* 
resolutions  were  passed  by  the  Presbytery,  expressive  of  the  sense  of 
Presbytery  of  the  loss  they  had  sustained,  and  the  Church's  loss  in 
the  death  of  those  excellent  brethren,  and  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Moore 
and  Sterrett  were  appointed  to  prepare  obituary  notices  of  these 
brethren. 
/o  The  Rev.  L.  W.  Williams  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
/  Carlisle,  being  called  to  the  pastoral  charge  of  two  or  three  united 
churches  within  the  bounds  of  said  Presbytery.  The  Rev.  John  Mc- 
"^  Kinney,  formerly  a  member  of  this  Presbytery,  and  former  pastor  of 
the  church  of  Alexandria,  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Sydney.  So  strictly  was  the  rule  of  Presbytery  observed,  namely  : 
to  examine  all  ministers  coming  from  other  Presbyteries,  before  re- 
ceiving them,  that  it  was  not  dispensed  with  even  in  the  case  of  Mr. 
McKinney,  who  was  so  well  known,  having  been  the  pastor  of  one  of 
our  churches  for  several  years,  and  about  whose  soundness  in  the  faith 
no  one  entertained  a  doubt. 

Mr.  Hamilton  reported  at  this  time  the  organization  of  a  church  at 
Philipsburg,  Centre  county,  according  to  an  appointment  of  Presby- 
tery ;  and  Mr.  Merwin  reported  the  organization  of  a  church  at 
Cooper's  settlement,  Morris  township,  Clearfield  county.  By  petition 
of  several  members  of  a  branch  of  the  Huntingdon  congregation,  re- 
siding in  the  vicinity  of  Union  School  House,  a  church  was  organized, 
called  the  Church  of  Unity. 

During  the  year  1852  a  few  changes  occured  in  regard  to  the  mem- 
bers of  Presbytery,  but  scarcely  any  business  was  transacted  but  such 
as  was  customary  at  every  meeting.  The  organization  of  a  church  at 
Snow  Shoe,  Centre  county,  was  authorized,  and  Mr.  Linn  was  appoint- 
\  ed  to  this  service.  The  Rev.  Samuel  M.  Cooper  resigned  the  charge 
of  the  congregation  of  Lick  Run;  and  a  call  was  presented  from  said 
(Q  congregation  for  the  pastoral  services  of  Rev.  Wm.  J.  Gibson  of  Wil- 
liamsburg and  Sinking  Valley.  The  Rev.  John  Peebles,  late  pastor 
of  the  church  of  Huntingdon,  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Washington.  The  Rev.  Wm.  L.  Garthwait  was  received  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Elizabethtown. 

The  Rev.  Anderson  B.  Quay,  an  agent  of  the  Pennsylvania  Coloni- 
zation Society,  being  present,  addressed  the  Presbytery  on  the  sub- 
ject of  colonization,  when  the  following  paper  was  offered  by  Dr. 
McKinney,  and  passed,  viz: 


^ 


HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF   HUNTINGDON.  157 

"  The  colonization  of  the  free  blacks  on  the  western  coast  of  Africa  has 
been  proved,  by  experience,  to  be  a  wise  and  benificent  scheme.  Of  its  wis- 
dom and  excellence,  the  flourishing  Republic  of  Liberia  presents  the  most 
incontestable  evidence.  The  young  Republic  is  fast  assuming  the  propor- 
tions and  vigor  of  maturity,  and  has  become  an  object  of  the  deepest 
interest  to  the  statesman  and  the  Christian.  The  question  of  the  capacity 
of  the  black  race,  and  their  capability  for  self-government,  is  being  satis- 
factorily solved.  The  emigration  from  the  United  States  flows  on  in  one 
continual  stream  ;  yet  there  are  hundreds,  yea  thousands  who,  from  want  of 
means,  are  forced  to  an  unwilling  residence  among  us,  as  a  contemned  and 
despised  race.  There  it  is  the  object  of  the  American  Colonization  Society 
to  remove,  yet 'their  present  funds  are  wholly  inadequate  to  the  work; 
therefore, 

Resolved,  1st.  That  it  be  earnestly  recommended  to  each  of  the  Sessions 
under  the  care  of  this  Presbytery  to  take  up  a  contribution  for  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Colonization  Society  on  the  4th  of  July,  or  whenever  during  the  year 
it  may  be  deemed  most  expedient. 

Resolved,  2d.  That  the  Rev.  A.  B.  Quay,  agent,  be  recommended  to  the 
confidence  and  co-operation  of  the  churches." 

The  last  half  of  this  year  presents  as  few  facts  in  the  proceedings  of 
Presbytery  for  public  record  as  the  former  part  of  the  year.  With 
scarcely  any  matters  beyond  the  usual  items  of  presbyterial  business, 
the  ordinary  time  was  occupied  by  Presbytery.  The  whole  year 
might  have  been  passed  over  without  any  notice,  only  for  recording 
the  names  added  to  the  roll  of  Presbytery,  and  noticing  the  fact  of 
the  time  and  circumstances  of  the  changes  and  dismission  of  others, 
to  which  it  may  be  desirable  hereafter  to  make  reference. 

At  the  stated  meeting  in  October  the  Rev.  James  Campbell  was  re-      \- 
ceived   from  the   Presbytery  of   Hocking,    and  the   Rev.  Joseph    B.  . 
Adams  from  the  Presbytery  of  Tuscaloosa,  who  was  orignally  a  licen- 
tiate of  this  Presbytery. 

Mr.  A.  Miller  Woods,  the  fourth  son  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  James  S.  \, 
Woods  of  Lewistown,  was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  as  a 
candidate  for  the  ministry,  and  assigned  pieces  of  trial.  At  the 
request  of  a  number  of  the  members  of  the  church  of  Hollidaysburg 
living  in  Altoona  and  its  vicinity,  a  committee  of  Presbytery  was  ap- 
pointed to  organize  a  Presbyterian  church  in  that  place.  Such  has 
been  the  rapid  growth  6f  that  town,  that  it  has  risen  to  the  propor- 
tions of  a  city,  and  actually  obtained  the  chartered  name,  and  is  now 
known  as  the  City  of  Altoona.  There  are  at  this  time  two  flourishing 
Presbyterian  churches  there. 


158  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON'. 

/  \/  Rev.  David  McKinney-,  D.  D.,  requested  and  obtained  a  dissolution 
of  his  pastoral  relation  to  the  church  of  Hollidaysburg,  he  having 
become  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Presbyterian  Banner,  a  paper  lately 
established  in  Philadelphia,  chiefly  through  his  influence.  The  follow- 
ing resolution  was  offered  by  Rev.  James  Linn  of  Bellefonte,  in  refer- 
ence to  this  enterprise : 

"  As  our  brother,  David  McKinney,  D.  D.,  has  embarked  in  the  weekly 
publication  of  a  Presbyterian  newspaper,  at  a  very  cheap  rate ; 

Resolved,  Therefore,  that  Presbytery  approve  of  Dr.  McKinney's  enter- 
prise, and  recommend  to  our  ministers,  and  elders  and  members  of  the 
church  to  sustain  him  as  far  as  they  may  think  practicable." 

The  Rev.  John  Elliott,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Lisbon,  was  called  to  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
at  Williamsburg,  and  at  the  adjourned  meeting,  held  at  Williamsburg 
in  November  following,  he  was  received  under  care  of  Presbytery,  or- 
dained and  installed  pastor  of  said  church. 
\"\  Mr.  William  Alexander,  a  member  of  the  church  of  Shirleysburg, 
was  after  usual  examination,  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  as 
a  student  for  the  ministry,  and  recommended  to  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion. At  the  adjourned  meeting  held  at  Williamsburg,  November  1, 
Dr.  McKinney  was,  at  his  own  request,  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Philadelphia. 

At  the  stated  meeting  in  April,  1853,  a  call  was  laid  before  Presby- 
fy  tery  by  the  church  of  Hollidaysburg,  for  the  Rev.  D.  X.  Junkin  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Baltimore,  and  liberty  granted  to  the  congregation  to 
prosecute  it  before  said  Presbytery.  At  the  same  meeting  calls  were 
presented  from  the  congregations  of  Little  Augwick  and  Upper  Tus- 
carora  for  the  pastoral  services  of  the  Rev.  William  S.  Morrison  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland.  At  the  adjourned  meeting  in 
June  following,  these  calls  were  accepted  by  him,  and  in  due  time  he 
was  installed  over  said  congregations,  giving  half  of  his  time  to  each. 

The  following  minute  is  found  upon  the  records  of  the  Presbytery 
in  relation  to  Mr.  Foote,  a  candidate  for  the  ministry  received  under 
the  care  of  Presbytery,  and  recommended  to  the  Board  of  Education 
some  years  previously ;  it  is  copied  here  as  an  honorable  example, 
worthy  of  being  followed  in  similar  circumstances,  and  if  more  gene- 
rally imitated,  would  relieve  the  Board  from  much  of  the  secret  pre- 
judice against  it  : 

"  Mr.  Foote,  a  candidate  for  the  gospel  ministry,  asked  leave  to  with- 
draw from  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery,  on  account  of  the  failure  of 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  159 

his  health.  His  request  was  granted,  and  he  was  allowed  to  refund  the 
moneys  advanced  by  the  Board  of  Education  to  him  through  the  treasurer 
of  this  Presbytery,  vihich  he  accordingly  did." 

We  do  not  say  that  this  is  an  exception  to  the  general  rule,  but  it  is 
the  only  instance  of  moneys  returned  upon  giving  up  studies  in  pre- 
paration for  the  ministry,  which  we  have  so  far  met  with.  We  do  not 
know  what  became  of  Mr.  F.  after  this  time,  or  whether  living  or  not, 
but  if  deceased,  we  would  engrave  upon  his  tombstone  these  words, 
11  Which  he  accordingly  did,"  in  honorable  memorial  of  him. 

The  pastoral  relation  of  the  Rev.  Miles  T.  Merwin  to  the  congrega-    -  \ 
tion  of  Clearfield  was  dissolved  at  this  time,  at  his  request,  and  with 
consent  of  the  congregation.     A  call  was  presented  from  Altoona  con- 
gregation for  Rev.  Daniel  L.  Hughes  for  two  thirds  of  his  time.     This 
call  was  afterwards  declined  by  Mr.  Hughes. 

Mr.  Robert  F.  Wilson,  a  member  of  the  church  of  West  Kishaco- 
quillas,  and  a  student  of  theology  in  the  Seminary  at  Allegheny,  was 
taken  under  care  of  the  Presbytery,  and  pieces  of  trial  were  assigned 
him  in  view  of  licensure  in  due  time. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  in  June,  the  call  which  had  been  laid  be- 
fore Presbytery  from  the  church  of  Hollidaysburg  for  Rev.  D.  X.  \ 
Junkin,  D.  D.,  having  been  declined  by  him,  the  congregation  now 
laid  before  Presbytery  a  call  for  the  Rev.  Robert  Johnston,  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  asking  liberty  to  prosecute  it.  Rev.  Israel 
Ward  resigned  the  charge  of  Spruce  Creek  2d  church,  with  consent 
of  the  congregation,  Rev.  James  Bourse  was  dismissed  to  the  Presby- 
tery of  Baltimore,  and  Rev.  John  Peebles  returned  the  certificate  of 
dismission,  obtained  at  a  former  meeting,  with  a  view  to  connect  him- 
self with  the  Presbytery  of  Washington,  and  was  dismissed  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Green  Briar. 

The  churches  of  Pine  Grove  and  Sinking  Valley,  each  presented  a 
call  for  Rev.  D.  L.  Hughes  for  one-half  of  his  time  as  pastor  of  Spruce"' 
Creek  1st  church,  in  connection  with  Pine  Grove  for  one-third  of  his 
time.  The  call  to  Sinking  Valley  for  the  one-half  of  his  time  induced 
the  congregation  of  Pine  Grove  to  endeavor  to  take  the  one-half  in- 
stead of  the  one-third.  At  the  stated  meeting  in  the  Fall  the  matter 
between  these  several  parties  was  decided  by  Mr.  H.  accepting  the 
call  for  half  his  time  from  Sinking  Valley,  and  to  enable  him  to  do  so 
Presbytery  dissolved  his  relation  to  Pine  Grove  congregation. 

The  call  which  had  been  presented  by  the  congregation  of  Holli- 
daysburg, for   the  Rev.  John  Johnston  of  Carlisle  Presbytery,  was 


/ 


160  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

declined  by  him,  and  at  the  stated  meeting  in  the  Fall  the  call  to  Dr. 
Junkin  was  renewed,  and  accepted  by  him  at  an  adjourned  meeting 
held  during  the  meeting  of  the  Synod  in  Philadelphia  in  the  latter 
part  of  October,  and  he  was  installed  in  due  time  as  pastor  of  the 
church  by  a  committee  of  Presbytery. 

The  Rev.  John  McKinney  laboring  without  the  bounds  of  Presby- 
tery since  the  time  of  his  resignation  of  the  congregation  of  Alexan- 
dria, requested,  by  letter,  a  certificate  of  dismission  to  the  Presbytery 
of  Chicago,  and  was  accordingly  dismissed  at  this  time  to  said  Pres- 
bytery. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  M.  Cooper  was  called  to  the  congregation  of  Clear- 
field for  three-fourths  of  his  time ;  this  call  was  accepted  by  him  after 
consideration,  and  arrangements  made  for  the  employment  of  the 
remaining  part  of  his  time. 

The  Rev.  Alexander  Boyd  resigned  charge  of  the  congregation  of 
Mt.  Pleasant,  and  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbyteiy  of  Cedar,  Iowa. 

Thus  far  we  have  noticed  the  several  changes  which  took  place  in 
the  Presbytery  during  the  year  1853.  It  only  remains  to  note  two 
other  matters  of  business  of  some  importance.  A  communication 
was  received  from  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  the  purport  of 
which  will  be  understood  by  the  following  action  of  Presbytery  in 
reference  to  it,  viz : 

"The  Rev.  Messrs.  Hamill,  Sterrett,  Hamilton  and  Hughes  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  visit  the  churches,  and  exchange  pulpits  with  any 
of  the  pastors  who  might  desire  the  subject  of  Foreign  Missions  to  be  spe- 
cially presented  to  their  people.  It  was  further  resolved,  in  view  of  the 
great  need  of  increased  effort  for  the  conversion  of  the  world,  and  the  in- 
creased liabilities  of  our  Boards  of  Foreign  and  Domestic  Missions  from 
year  to  year;  and  in  view  of  the  fact  that  our  vacant  congregations  are  not 
in  the  habit  generally  of  making  any  contributions  to  either  one  of  them, 
that  the  committee  on  supplies  be  directed  to  appoint  one  supply  to  present 
the  cause  of  Domestic  Missions,  and  one  to  present  the  cause  of  Foreign 
Missions  to  the  vacant  churches  within  our  bounds,  once  each  year,  and  to 
take  all  proper  measures  to  encourage  subscriptions  and  collections  among 
them." 

The  Presbytery  has  always  been  among  the  foremost  in  the  advo- 
cacy of  temperance,  since  the  beginning  of  the  reformation  on  that 
subject.  Perhaps  no  Presbytery  had  suffered  more  from  the  common 
and  habitual  use  of  intoxicating  drinks — especially  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  the  Presbytery — and  none  less  for  the  last  thirty  years.     The 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERV    OF    HUNTINGDON.  161 

following  action  was  had  on  the  subject  at  the  stated  meeting  in 
October,  1853 : 

"Whereas,  the  evils  of  intemperance,  arising  from  the  manufacture,  sale 
and  use  of  ardent  spirits  as  a  drink,  in  the  effects  which  are  consequent  on 
families  and  individuals,  are  most  disastrous  in  a  moral  and  religious  point 
of  view ;  and  whereas,  efforts  have  been  made  with  success  in  some  places, 
to  have  the  traffic  prevented  by  State  legislation ;  and  whereas,  there  are 
now  strenuous  efforts  made  in  this  State  to  have  such  a  law  passed  as  will  be 
similar  in  its  operation  to  that  which  is  known  as  the  '  Maine  Liquor  Law  ;' 
therefore, 

Resolved,  That  in  the  mind  of  this  Presbytery,  such  an  effort  is  well  de- 
signed, and  deserves  the  hearty  concurrence  and  warm  support  of  all  the 
friends  of  humanity  and  religion  in  our  bounds." 

As  the  years  advance  the  business  of  the  Presbytery  multiplies  with 
the  increase  of  the  churches,  and  the  number  of  ministers  and  licen- 
tiates, and  candidates  for  the  ministry.  The  annual  enlargement  of 
the  churches  generally  under  the  supervision  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly, multiplies  the  business  of  the  several  Presbyteries  at  their  semi- 
annual and  intermediate  meetings.  During  the  year  1854  more 
business  was  transacted,  or  occupied  the  time  and  attention  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  than  any  former  year,  and  yet  mostly  of 
the  ordinary  kind. 

Ordinarily  the  stated  meetings  of  the  Presbytery  continued  only 
two  days,  seldom  reaching  into  the  third  day,  but  this  year  three  full 
days,  at  the  Spring  and  Fall  meetings  each,  were  occupied  with  the 
business  of  Presbytery,  leaving  an  unusual  amount  of  business  to  be 
transacted  at  the  adjourned  meeting  in  June.  The  business  of  the 
Presbytery  commenced  with  the  commencement  of  the  year.  A  pro 
re  nata  meeting  was  held  in  January  for  the  purpose  of  releasing  the 
Rev.  Lowman  P.  Hawes  from  the  charge  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Huntingdon,  who,  on  account  of  declining  health,  purposed  travel- 
ing for  a  time  in  foreign  lands.  At  the  stated  meeting  in  April,  the 
Rev.  0.  0.  McClean  of  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  was  called  to  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  church  just  vacated  by  Mr.  Hawes,  and  at  the 
adjourned  meeting  in  June  he  was  received  on  certificate  from  said 
Presbytery,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  church  of  Huntingdon.  Some 
difficulties  with  regard  to  the  boundary  line  between  the  churches  of 
Alexandria  and  Shaver's  Creek  having  arisen,  the  subject  was  referred 
to  Presbytery.  The  question  was  settled  for  the  time  being,  by  the 
Presbytery  ordering  that  the  pastor  of  Shaver's  Creek  should  not 
preach  nearer  to  Alexandria  church  than  five  miles,  unless  by  invita- 


162  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

tion  of  the  pastor  or  session  of  said  church ;  and  the  pastor  of  Alexan- 
dria should  not  preach  nearer  to  Shaver's  Creek  church  at  Manor 
Hill,  than  seven  miles,  unless  invited  hy  the  pastor  or  session  of  the 
aboved  named  church.  This  action  led  in  part  to  the  resignation  of 
Rev.  Richard  Curran  of  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregation  of 
Shaver's  Creek  ;  at  least  this  was  one  of  the  reasons  assigned  by  Mr. 
Curran  for  asking  leave  to  resign  the  charge,  at  the  next  stated  meet- 
ing. In  granting  his  request  the  Presbytery  passed  the  following 
resolution  : 

"  1st.  That  they  cannot  approve  the  principal  reason  assigned  by  Mr. 
Curran,  viz  :  that  he  felt  aggrieved  by  the  action  of  Presbytery  at  its  last 
meeting,  and  that  said  action  limited  his  sphere  of  usefulness.  For  the 
Presbytery  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  said  action  was  lawful,  and  adopted 
with  a  view  to  the  best  interests  of  the  cause  of  Christ  in  that  region. 

2d.  Presbytery  cannot  approve  of  the  custom  of  ministers  and  congrega- 
tions making  all  their  arrangements  for  a  separation  and  dissolution  of  the 
pastoral  relation,  and  entering  into  other  engagements  which  create  a 
necessity  for  such  a  dissolution,  previous  to  bringing  the  case  before  Presby- 
tery. Our  Form  of  Government  confers  upon  Presbytery  the  power  of 
constituting  and  dissolving  the  pastoral  relation,  and  we  deem  it  improper 
that  cases  of  this  kind  should  be  decided  and  settled  in  advance  of  the 
judgment  of  Presbytery. 

3d.  We  recommend  to  pastors  and  churches  in  connection  with  this  Pres- 
bytery, to  observe  the  process  prescribed  in  Chapter  XVII  of  the  Form  of 
Government." 

The  Rev.  William  Chester,  D.  D.,  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion, being  present,  addressed  the  Presbytery  on  the  subject  of  the 
education  of  young  men  for  the  ministry,  and  the  wants  of  the  Board. 
After  which,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Linn  was  appointed  to  bring  in  a  minute 
expressive  of  the  views  of  the  Presbytery  upon  the  subject.  Dr.  Linn 
reported  the  next  day  in  a  series  of  resolutions  to  the  following  im- 
port : 

"  1st.  Recognizing  the  moral  and  spiritual  destitutions  of  the  world; 

2d.  The  lack  of  young  men  ottering  themselves  for  the  gospel  ministry  ; 

3d.  The  increasing  population  of  the  country  calling  loudly  on  the 
churches  for  more  liberal  contributions  in  aid  of  the  Board  ; 

4th.  The  duty  of  professing  parents  to  give  prayerful  attention  to  the 
religious  instruction  of  their  children,  that  their  minds  may  be  impressed 
with  a  sense  of  the  duties  that  devolve  upon  them  from  their  baptism." 

In  this  connection  Messrs.  Junkin  and  Peebles,  ministers,  and  J. 
B.  Riddle,  elder,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  memorialize  the 
General  Assemblv  to  authorize  the  Board  of  Education  to  increase  the 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  163 

yearly  allowance  for  the  support  of  candidates  for  the  ministry.  This 
committee  reported  a  memorial,  setting  forth  several  good  and  suffi- 
cient reasons  why  there  should  be  an  increased  amount  appropriated 
for  the  support  of  the  beneficiaries,  such  as  "  the  insufficiency  of  the 
amount  then  given  to  students  in  colleges  and  academies,  being  only 
$75.  Other  discouragements  to  try  the  zeal  and  constancy  of  young 
men,  without  the  spirit,  wearing  struggle  with  pecuniary  difficulties ; 
a  liberal  system  would  not  only  call  forth  more  men,  but  secure  the 
blessing  of  the  Master,  and  call  forth  more  means  from  the  churches." 

A  communication  from  the  Presbytery  of  Baltimore,  proposing  a 
definite  plan  for  a  division  of  the  Synod,  was  considered  by  the  Pres- 
bytery at  its  meeting  in  the  Spring  of  this  year,  and  the  plan  decided- 
ly disapproved  of;  and  further,  the  Commissioners  to  the  General 
Assembly  instructed  to  oppose  any  division  of  the  Synod.  However, 
the  General  Assembly  did  divide  the  Synod,  against  which  division 
the  Presbytery  entered  their  dissent  or  protest,  giving  reasons  there- 
for in  a  series  of  resolutions  prepared  by  a  committee.  Nevertheless 
the  division  took  effect,  and  the  two  Synods  continued  as  divided  till 
the  reunion  of  the  Old  and  New  School. 

The  following  accessions  to  the  roll  of  Presbytery  and  other  changes 
took  place  during  this  year.  The  Eev.  Thomas  Stevenson  was  receiv- 
ed from  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  churches 
of  Spruce  Creek  2d  and  Pine  Grove.  The  Rev.  John  Peebles  return- 
ed the  certificate  of  dismission  which  he  had  received  to  the  Presby- 
tery of  Green  Briar  the  previous  year,  and  was  again  enrolled  as  a 
member  of  Presbytery.  The  Rev.  A.  B.  Clark  was  received  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Blairsville,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Altoona.  The  Rev.  S.  H.  McDonald  resigned  the  pastoral  \^ 
charge  of  the  church  of  West  Kishacoquillas.  A  church  was  organi- 
zed out  of  parts  of  the  church  of  Alexandria  and  Shaver's  Creek, 
called  the  Cottage  Church. 

The  following  candidates  for  the  ministry  were  received  under  the 
care  of  Presbytery,  namely,  Messrs.  Samuel  T.  Thompson,  a  member 
of  the  Perryville  church,  (the  name  of  said  church  having  at  this  time 
l;een  changed  to  Milroy  to  distinguish  it  from  another  place  of  the 
same  name,)  Joseph  H.  Barnard,  D.  J.Beale,  John  D.  Brown  and 
George  Fife. 

Mr.  Thomas  Ward  was  received  as  a  licentiate  from  the  Presbytery 
of  New  Lisbon,  and  Messrs.  Richard  H.  Morrow,  Robert  T.  Wilson 
and  Joseph  TL  Mathers  were  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel,  at  the  ad- 


f 


164  HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON. 

journed  meeting  in  June.  At  the  stated  meeting  in  October,  Mr. 
Samuel  T.  Thompson  was  licensed  to  preach. 

The  first  public  movement  was  made  in  Presbytery  near  the  close  of 
this  ecclesiastical  year,  to  secure  parsonages  in  the  churches  for  their 
pastors.  Rev.  Dr.  D.  X.  Junkin,  and  Joseph  Smith,  elder  of  Holli- 
daysburg  Church,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  report  on  the  sub- 
ject to  the  next  stated  meeting. 

This  year  is  marked  by  the  lamented  death  of  two  of  the  most 
amiable  and  excellent  members  of  the  Presbytery,  the  Rev.  Joshua 
Moore,  pastor  of  the  church  of  East  Kishacoquillas,  and  Rev.  John 
Peebles,  late  pastor  of  the  church  of  Huntingdon.  Mr.  Moore  died 
on  the  15th  of  April,  and  Mr.  Peebles  on  the  11th  of  August  fol- 
lowing. 

The  Rev.  Messrs.  Junkin  and  Linn  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
prepare  a  minute  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Moore,  who  reported  the  fol- 
lowing, which  was  unanimously  adopted,  viz  : 

"The  Presbytery  having  learned  with  profound  regret  of  the  death  of 
our  beloved  brother  in  the  ministry,  the  Rev.  Joshua  Moore,  late  pastor 
of  the  congregation  of  East  Kishacoquillas,  it  was  ordered  that  this  minute 
be  adopted  in  reference  to  his  lamented  departure.  Our  brother  was  pre- 
sented from  attending  the  last  stated  meeting  by  the  illness  which  resulted 
in  his  death,  but  at  that  time  we  little  apprehended  that  our  Presbytery 
and  his  congregation  would  be  so  suddenly  bereaved,  yet  after  an  illness  of 
less  than  a  week  he  tell  asleep  in  Jesus  on  the  15th  day  of  April,  1854.  In 
recording  the  death  of  this  excellent  brother,  this  Presbytery  bear  testi- 
mony to  his  worth  as  a  man  of  God,  and  a  learned,  faithful,  and  devoted 
minister  of  Christ.  His  lovely  and  beloved  memory  shall  long  live 
amongst  us.  His  meekness,  his  urbanity,  his  brotherly  kindness,  his  con- 
sistent piety,  his  love  for  souls  and  his  zeal  for  the  glory  of  the  Master, 
were  such  as  to  endear  him  to  this  Presbytery,  and  to  the  people  of  God; 
and  whilst  these  assure  us  of  the  peace  and  triumph  of  his  death,  they  en- 
hance our  sense  of  the  bereavement  we  have  sustained.  His  family  and  his 
congergation  are  assured  of  the  tenderest  condolence  of  this  Presbytery, 
and  whilst  we  mourn  his  departure,  we  ought  to  be  admonished  by  it  to  be 
also  ready.  'With  us  his  name  shall  live  through  long  succeeding  years, 
embalmed  with  all  our  hearts  can  give,  fond  memories  and  tears.'  " 

The  Rev.  Oliver  0.  McClean  was  appointed  to  prepare  an  obituary 
notice,  and  bring  in  a  minute  on  the  death  ^of  Rev.  John  Peebles. 
Mr.  McClean  presented  the  following,  which  was  also  heartily  adopted 
by  Presbytery,  viz  : 

"  In  recording  the  death  of  this  excellent  brother,  Presbytery  would  ex- 
press its  sense  of  great  loss.     The  departure  of  a  minister  is  always  a  Bad 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  165 

bereavement,  but  the  decease  of  such  a  man  as  ho  was,  whose  loss  we  now 
mourn,  is  indeed  a  special  calamity.  We  miss  his  wisdom  and  discretion  in 
our  counsels,  and  his  agreeable  intercourse  in  private.  But  the  church  of 
Christ  particularly  feels  the  stroke  of  the  affliction.  For  nearly  a  quarter 
of  a  century  he  labored  for  her  prosperity.  And  the  fact  of  his  long  settle- 
ment in  an  important  field,  attests  the  fidelity  with  which  he  discharged 
his  duties,  whilst  the  reluctance  with  which  his  people  agreed  to  a  separa- 
tion, indicates  their  high  satisfaction  with  his  ministry.  Thankful  that  God 
permitted  us  to  enjoy  his  presence  so  long,  and  recollecting  with  great 
pleasure  the  Christian  graces  that  adorned  his  character,  (especially  those 
of  humility,  meekness  and  fraternal  kindness,)  and  how  well  in  every  walk 
in  life  he  illustrated  by  holy  living,  the  gospel  he  preached,  the  Presbytery 
rejoice  in  the  confident  hope  that  he  has  gone  by  the  door  of  Christ's  blood 
to  the  rest  of  the  people  of  God." 

The  brethren  who  prepared  the  above  obituary  notices  of  the  be- 
loved Moore  and  Peebles,  were  warm  hearted  men,  capable  of  appre- 
ciating the  Christian  and  ministerial  excellencies  of  the  beloved  dead, 
yet  not  one  word  in  all  that  they  have  expressed,  but  is  literally  true 
without  the  slightest  exaggeration. 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  April  10,  1855,  the  Rev. 
Miles  T.  Merwin  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  . 
and  Rev.  Messrs.  F.  A.  Pratt  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Dane,  and  George  W.  Shaeffer  from  the  Presbytery  of  Allegheny. 
The  latter  was  called  to  the  congregation  of  Shirleysburg  for  one-half 
of  his  time,  and  the  call  being  accepted,  Messrs.  Elliott,  Morrison 
and  Sterrett  were  appointed  a  committee  of  installation  at  a  time  to 
be  agreed  on  among  themselves. 

Mr.  Thomas  Spears,  a  licentiate  from  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone, 
was  called  by  the  congregation  of  Little  Valley,  but  being  a  foreign 
licentiate,  and  not  having  completed  the  time  of  probation,  the  call 
was  retained  in  the  hands  of  Presbytery  till  his  papers  had  passed 
the  review  of  Synod.  At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  Presbytery,  held 
at  Little  Valley,  November  13,  1855,  Mr.  Spears  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled pastor  of  said  church. 

On  the  10th  of  April,  Rev.  Lowmax  P.  Hawks  was  dismissed  to  the 

•  .  .  ^? 

Presbytery  of  Iowa.     Rev.  B.  E.  Collins  at  this  time  received  calls 

from. the   churches   of   Morris    and    Moshannon,    and   Messrs.    Linn, 

Cooper  and  Gibson  were  appointed  a  committee  to  install  him  at  a 

time  agreed  on  by  themselves.     Rev.  James  J.  Hamilton  gave  notice 

of  his  purpose  to  resign  the  charge  of  the  congregation  of  Curwins- 

ville.     At  the  adjourned  meeting  held  in  .Tune  following,  the  congre- 


1 


166  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

gation  having  signified  their  consent,  the  pastoral  relation  was  dis- 
solved. The  Rev.  Nathan  Shotwell  was  received  in  April  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Washington,  Pa.  A  call  from  the  congregation  of  East 
Kishacoquillas  for  his  pastoral  services  was  laid  before  Presbytery, 
and  accepted  by  him;  Drs.  Junkin,  Woods  and  Thompson  were  ap- 
pointed the  committee  of  installation. 

Mr.  William  R.  Boyer,  after  the  usual  examination,  was  received 
under  the  care  of  Presbytery  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry,  and 
recommended  for  aid  to  the  Board  of  Education. 

The  Rev.  S.  H.  McDonald  having  offered  his  resignation  of  the  pas- 
toral charge  of  the  congregation  of  West  Kishacoquillas,  at  the 
previous  Fall  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  and  the  congregation  con- 
senting, the  pastoral  relation  was  at  this  time  dissolved. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  in  June  the  Rev.  D.  Sterrett  requested 
liberty  to  resign  the  charge  of  McVeytown  and  Newton  Hamilton 
congregations,  and  at  the  stated  meeting  in  October  his  request  was 
granted.  At  a  special  meeting  held  at  Hollidaysburg,  August  14,  Rev. 
James  Smith  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Allegheny. 

The  stated  Fall  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  was  held  at  Bellefonte. 

at    which  calls  were   laid   before   Prespytery   from   the   churches   of 

i'v)  McVeytown  and  Newton  Hamilton  for  Mr.  Richard   H.  Morrow,  a 

•^   licentiate  of  this    Presbytery ;    but  as  Mr.   Morrow  had  requested  a 

dismission  to   the  Presbytery  of  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  the  following 

action  was  had  by  Presbytery,  viz  : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  request  of  Mr.  Morrow  be  granted. 

Resolved,  That  while  Presbytery  grant  the  request,  they  would  not 
hereby  be  considered  as  intimating  what  may  be  his  duty  as  to  remaining 
in  the  West,  or  returning  at  the  calls  of  the  churches  of  McVeytown  and 
Newton  Hamilton." 

Mr.  Morrow  was  then  in  Iowa. 

Mr.  Robert  F.  Wilson,  a  licentiate,  was  at  the  same  time  dismissed 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle.  Calls  from  the  congregations  of  Fruit 
Hill  and  Mt.  Pleasant  were  laid  before  Presbytery  for  the  Rev.  J.  J. 
Hamilton. 

Letters  were  received  from  the  Board  of  Education  and  from  the 
Committee  of  Church  Extension  located  at  St.  Louis.  The.  usual 
series  of  resolutions  were  passed,  commending  these  objects  to  the 
prayers  and  liberality  of  the  churches.  The  Presbytery  never  failed. 
upon  their  attention  being  called  to  these  objects,  to  abound  in 
strongly  worded  resolutions ;  as  was  undoubtedly  the  practical  expe- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON".  In? 

rience  of  all  the  Presbyteries.  But  the  subject  of  Systematic  Benevo- 
lence seriously  engaged  the  attention  of  the  Presbytery  at  this  time. 
A  committee  had  been  appointed  a  year  before  to  prepare  a  report  on 
this  subject,  and  at  this  time  reported  the  following  paper,  viz: 

" Resolved,  1st.  That  love  to  the  Church  cause  is  an  essential  element  of 
christian  piety,  and  regular  communication  of  our  worldly  substance  ac- 
cording as  God  has  prospered  us,  an  ordinary  important  part  of  practical 
religion. 

Resolved,  2d.  That  accordingly  it  is  as  much  the  duty  of  the  pastors  and 
officers  of  the  Church  to  make  arrangements  for  the  cultivation  of  the  grace 
of  benevolence  for  the  performance  of  this  part  of  practical  religion  as  for 
any  other  of  the  offices  of  religion  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  3d.  That  it  be  affectionately  enjoined  upon  the  pastors  and  other 
appropriate  officers  of  the  churches  to  adopt  and  put  into  efficient  operation 
some  plan  for  making  regular  collections  for  the  four  Boards  of  the  Church, 
and  the  Assembly's  Committee  of  Church  Extension,  so  that  a  contribution 
for  each  shall  be  made  at  least  once  every  year.  And  it  is  further  enjoined, 
that  one  or  other  of  the  following  plans  be  adopted  by  each  church,  pro- 
vided there  is  not  one  equally  efficient  already  in  operation : 

Plan  1st.  A  card,  or  book  with  the  names  of  all  the  members  of  the  con- 
gregation upon  it,  with  the  columns  for  weekly,  or  monthly,  or  quarterly 
sums,  such  as  they  may  voluntarily  offer  to  pay.  The  sums  to  be  paid 
either  to  the  elders,  the  deacons,  or  to  persons  specially  appointed  in  each 
district  of  the  congregation. 

2d.  Monthly  collections  in  the  Church  to  be  divided  amongst  the  Boards 
at  the  discretion  of  the  deacons  or  elders. 

3d.  A  quarterly  sermon  in  behalf  of  the  Boards,  assigning  a  quarter  to 
•  arli,  to  be  followed  by  a  collection  or  subscription  for  the  Board  whose 
cause  was  advocated  in  the  sermon." 

Another  committee,  which  had  been  appointed  also  at  a  previous 
meeting,  to  take  into  consideration  the  desirableness  and  expediency 
of  appointing  one  or  more  itinerant  missionaries  to  labor  in  the  desti- 
tute fields  and  feeble  congregations  in  our  bounds,  also,  at  this 
meeting,  reported  favorably  to  the  object,  with  an  indication  of  plans 
for  the  carrying  it  into  effect.  The  report  was  adopted,  and  arrange- 
ments made  for  putting  it  into  immediate  operation.  It  proved  to 
be  an  entire  success,  and  this  very  year  (1872)  the  Presbytery  had  the 
-atisfartion  of  ordaining  and  installing  a  young  man  as  permanent 
pastor  over  the  principal  points  of  the  missionary  field  ;  contemplated 
self-supporting,  or  almost  so ;  perhaps  entirely  at  this  time. 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  October,  1854,  a  church 
was  organized  out  of  parts  of  the  congregation^   of   Alexandria   and 


* 


168  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

Shaver's  Creek,  the  ecclesiastical  centre  of  which  was  to  be  at  Shaver's 
Creek  bridge,  called  the  Cottage  Church.  At  an  adjourned  meeting 
held  on  the  18th  day  of  October,  1855,  this  church  presented  a  call  for 
>the  pastoral  services  of  the  Rev.  Richard  Curran,  late  pastor  of 
Shaver's  Creek  congregation. 

Mr.  Curran  had  been  previously  dismissed  by  letter  to  connect  him- 
self with  the  2d  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  but  having  returned  the 
certificate  of  dismission,  his  name  was  restored  to  the  roll  of  Presby 
tery,  and  the  call  from  the  Cottage  Church  being  put  into  his  hands 
and  accepted  by  him.  Messrs.  George  Elliott,  0.  0.  McClean  and 
Thomas  Stevenson  were  appointed  a  committee  to  install  him  over 
the  said  church. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting,  held  January -8,  1856,  Mr.  R!  F.  Wil- 
son had  his  certificate  of  dissmission  changed  from  the  Presbytery 
of  Carlisle  to  Cedar  Presbytery,  Iowa.  And  the  Rev.  John  Elliott 
was  elected  presbyterial  missionary  ;  and  his  pastoral  relation  to  the 
congregation  of  Williamsburg  was  dissolved  at  the  stated  meeting 
in  April  following,  to  enable  him  to  accept  of  the  missionary  ap- 
pointment. This  was  much  displeasing  to  the  congregation,  and  in 
consequence  they  refused  to  contribute  to  the  fund  for  the  support  of 
the  missionary.  It  is  believed  that  they  never  contributed  any  thing 
to  the  missionary  fund,  even  under  several  changes  of  missionaries,  so 
permanent  was  their  displeasure. 

Calls  from  the  churches  of  MeVeytown  and  Newton  Hamilton  for 
Rev.  David  D.  Clarke  were  laid  before  Presbytery,  and  liberty  was 
granted  to  prosecute  them  before  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  of  which 
he  was  a  member.  At  an  adjourned  meeting  held  at  Newton  Hamilton, 
June  3,  1856,  Mr.  Clarke  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle 
and  installed  pastor  of  the  above  named  churches.  At  the  stated 
meeting  in  April  preceding,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Junkin  was  called  to  the 
1st  Presbyterian  Church  of  Ft.  Wayne ;  which  call  he  afterwards  de- 
clined. The  Sessions  of  the  Presbytery  at  this  time  closed  with  the 
adoption  of  the  narrative  of  the  state  of  religion  within  its  bounds. 
The  character  of  the  narrative  may  be  inferred  from  the  few  first  sen- 
tences, as  follows  :  "  The  Presbytery  would  report  on  the  state  of  reli- 
gion in  their  bounds,  that  nothing  has  occurred  during  the  past  year 
that  claims  special  attention.  Our  churches  generally  are  in  a  grow- 
ing condition.  A  good  degree  of  harmony  prevails.  The  public 
means  of  grace  have  been  well  attended,"  Ac,  Ac. 


*7t>^4u?  iCt/L^**"*    f~*-<l-C  /  bo 


HISTORY    OF    THE   FRESBVTERV   OF    HUNTINGDON.  161 

following  action  was  had  on  the  subject  at  the  stated  meeting  in 
October,  1853 : 

"Whereas,  the  evils  of  intemperance,  arising  from  the  manufacture,  sale 
and  use  of  ardent  spirits  as  a  drink,  in  the  effects  which  are  consequent  on 
families  and  individuals,  are  most  disastrous  in  a  moral  and  religious  point 
of  view ;  and  whereat,  efforts  have  been  made  with  success  in  some  places, 
to  have  the  traffic  prevented  by  State  legislation ;  and  whereas,  there  are 
now  strenuous  efforts  made  in  this  State  to  have  such  a  law  passed  as  will  be 
similar  in  its  operation  to  that  which  is  known  as  the  '  Maine  Liquor  Law  ;' 
therefore, 

Resolved,  That  in  the  mind  of  this  Presbytery,  such  an  effort  is  well  de- 
signed, and  deserves  the  hearty  concurrence  and  warm  support  of  all  the 
friends  of  humanity  and  religion  in  our  bounds." 

As  the  years  advance  the  business  of  the  Presbytery  multiplies  with 
the  increase  qf  the  churches,  and  the  number  of  ministers  and  licen- 
tiates, and  candidates  for  the  ministry.  The  annual  enlargement  of 
the  churches  generally  under  the  supervision  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly, multiplies  the  business  of  the  several  Presbyteries  at  their  semi- 
annual and  intermediate  meetings.  During  the  year  1854  more 
business  was  transacted,  or  occupied  the  time  and  attention  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  than  any  former  year,  and  yet  mostly  of 
the  ordinary  kind. 

Ordinarily  the  stated  meetings  of  the  Presbytery  continued  only 
two  days,  seldom  reaching  into  the  third  day,  but  this  year  three  full 
days,  at  the  Spring  and  Fall  meetings  each,  were  occupied  .with  the 
business  of  Presbytery,  leaving  an  unusual  amount  of  bftsiness  to  be 
transacted  at  the  adjourned  meeting  in  June.  The  business  of  the 
Presbytery  commenced  with  the  commencement  of  the  year.  A  pro 
re  nata  meeting  was  held  in  January  for  the  purpose  of  releasing  the 
Eev.  Lowman  P.  Ha wes  from  the  charge  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Huntingdon,  who,  on  account  of  declining  health,  purposed  travel- 
ing for  a  time  in  foreign  lands.  At  the  stated  meeting  in  April,  the 
Rev.  0.  0.  McClean  of  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  was  called  to  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  church  just  vacated  by  Mr.  Hawes,  and  at  the 
adjourned  meeting  in  June  he  was  received  on  certificate  from  said 
Presbytery,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  church  of  Huntingdon.  Some 
difficulties  with  regard  to  the  boundary  line  between  the  churches  of 
Alexandria  and  Shaver's  Creek  having  arisen,  the  subject  was  referred 
to  Presbytery.  The  question  was  settled  for  the  time  being,  by  the 
Presbytery  ordering  that  the  pastor  of  Shaver's  Creek  should  not 
preach  nearer  to  Alexandria  church  than  five  miles,  unless  by  invita- 


162  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

tion  of  the  pastor  or  session  of  said  church ;  and  the  pastor  of  Alexan- 
dria should  not  preach  nearer  to  Shaver's  Creek  church  at  Manor 
Hill,  than  seven  miles,  unless  invited  by  the  pastor  or  session  of  the 
aboved  named  church.  This  action  led  in  part  to  the  resignation  of 
Rev.  Richard  Curran  of  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregation  of 
Shaver's  Creek  ;  at  least  this  was  one  of  the  reasons  assigned  by  Mr. 
Curran  for  asking  leave  to  resign  the  charge,  at  the  next  stated  meet- 
ing. In  granting  his  request  the  Presbytery  passed  the  following 
resolution  : 

"  1st.  That  they  cannot  approve  the  principal  reason  assigned  by  Mr. 
Curran,  viz  :  that  he  felt  aggrieved  by  the  action  of  Presbytery  at  its  last 
meeting,  and  that  said  action  limited  his  sphere  of  usefulness.  For  the 
Presbytery  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  said  action  was  lawful,  and  adopted 
with  a  view  to  the  best  interests  of  the  cause  of  Christ  in  that  region. 

2d.  Presbytery  cannot  approve  of  the  custom  of  ministers  and  congrega- 
tions making  all  their  arrangements  for  a  separation  and  dissolution  of  the 
pastoral  relation,  and  entering  into  other  engagements  which  create  a 
necessity  for  such  a  dissolution,  previous  to  bringing  the  case  before  Presby- 
tery. Our  Form  of  Government  confers  upon  Presbytery  the  power  of 
constituting  and  dissolving  the  pastoral  relation,  and  we  deem  it  improper 
that  cases  of  this  kind  should  be  decided  and  settled  in  advance  of  the 
judgment  of  Presbytery. 

3d.  We  recommend  to  pastors  and  churches  in  connection  with  this  Pres- 
bytery, to  observe  the  process  prescribed  in  Chapter  XVII  of  the  Form  of 
Government." 

The  ReV.  William  Chester,  D.  D.,  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion, being  present,  addressed  the  Presbytery  on  the  subject  of  the 
education  of  young  men  for  the  ministry,  and  the  wants  of  the  Board. 
After  which,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Linn  was  appointed  to  bring  in  a  minute 
expressive  of  the  views  of  the  Presbytery  upon  the  subject.  Dr.  Linn 
reported  the  next  day  in  a  series  of  resolutions  to  the  following  im- 
port : 

"  1st.  Recognizing  the  moral  and  spiritual  destitutions  of  the  world; 

2d.  The  lack  of  young  men  offering  themselves  for  the  gospel  ministry  ; 

3d.  The  increasing  population  of  the  country  calling  loudly  on  the 
churches  for  more  liberal  contributions  in  aid  of  the  Board ; 

4th.  The  duty  of  professing  parents  to  give  prayerful  attention  to  the 
religious  instruction  of  their  children,  that  their  minds  may  be  impressed 
with  a  sense  of  the  duties  that  devolve  upon  them  from  their  baptism." 

In  this  connection  Messrs.  Junkin  and  Peebles,  ministers,  and  J. 
B.  Riddle,  elder,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  memorialize  the 
General  Assemblv  to  authorize  the  Board  of  Education  to  increase  the 


HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON'.  163 

yearly  allowance  for  the  support  of  candidates  for  the  ministry.  This 
committee  reported  a  memorial,  setting  forth  several  good  and  suffi- 
cient reasons  why  there  should  he  an  increased  amount  appropriated 
for  the  support  of  the  beneficiaries,  such  as  "  the  insufficiency  of  the 
amount  then  given  to  students  in  colleges  and  academies,  being  only 
$75.  Other  discouragements  to  try  the  zeal  and  constancy  of  young 
men.  without  the  spirit,  wearing  struggle  with  pecuniary  difficulties ; 
a  liberal  system  would  not  only  call  forth  more  men,  but  secure  the 
blessing  of  the  Master,  and  call  forth  more  means  from  the  churches." 

A  communication  from  the  Presbytery  of  Baltimore,  proposing  a 
definite  plan  for  a  division  of  the  Synod,  was  considered  by  the  Pres- 
bytery at  its  meeting  in  the  Spring  of  this  year,  and  the  plan  decided- 
ly disapproved  of;  and  further,  the  Commissioners  to  the  General 
Assembly  instructed  to  oppose  any  division  of  the  Synod.  However, 
the  General  Assembly  did  divide  the  Synod,  against  which  division 
the  Presbytery  entered  their  dissent  or  protest,  giving  reasons  there- 
for in  a  series  of  resolutions  prepared  by  a  committee.  Nevertheless 
the  division  took  effect,  and  the  two  Synods  continued  as  divided  till 
the  reunion  of  the  Old  and  New  School. 

The  following  accessions  to  the  roll  of  Presbytery  and  other  changes 
took  place  during  this  year.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Stevenson  was  receiv- 
ed from  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  and  installed  jiastor  of  the  churches  ^~ 
of  Spruce  Creek  2d  and  Pine  Grove.  The  Rev.  John  Peebles  return-  ys 
ed  the  certificate  of  dismission  which  he  had  received  to  the  Presby- 
tery of  Green  Briar  the  previous  year,  and  was  again  enrolled  as  a 
member  of  Presbytery.     The  Rev.  A.  B.  Clark  was  received  from  the 

Presbytery  of  Blairsville,  and   installed   pastor  of  the   Presbyterian     -y 

Church  in  Altoona.  The  Rev.  S.  H.  McDonald  resigned  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  church  of  West  Kishacoquillas.  A  church  was  organi- 
zed out  of  parts  of  the  church  of  Alexandria  and  Shaver's  Creek, 
called  the  Cottage  Church. 

The  following  candidates  for  the  ministry  were  received  under  the 
care  of  Presbytery,  namely,  Messrs.  Samuel  T.  Thompson,  a  member 
of  tlie  Perryville  church,  (the  name  of  said  church  having  at  this  time 
been  changed  to  Milroy  to  distinguish  it  from  another  place  of  the 
same  name,)  Joseph  H.  Barnard,  D.  J.  Beale,  John  D.  Brown  and 
George  Fife. 

Mr.  Thomas  Ward  was  received  as  a  licentiate  from  the  Presbytery 
of  New  Lisbon,  and  Messrs.  Richard  H.  Morrow,  Robert  T.  Wilson     J^ 
and  Joseph  H.  Mathers  were  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel,  at  the  ad-    J 


164  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON. 

journed  meeting  in  June.  At  the  stated  meeting  in  October,  Mr. 
Samuel  T.  Thompson  was  licensed  to  preach. 

The  first  public  movement  was  made  in  Presbytery  near  the  close  of 
this  ecclesiastical  year,  to  secure  parsonages  in  the  churches  for  their 
pastors.  Rev.  Dr.  D.  X.  Junkin,  and  Joseph  Smith,  elder  of  Holli- 
daysburg  Church,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  report  on  the  sub- 
ject to  the  next  stated  meeting. 

This  year  is  marked  by  the  lamented  death  of  two  •  of  the  most 
amiable  and  excellent  members  of  the  Presbytery,  the  Rev.  Joshua 
Moore,  pastor  of  the  church  of  East  Kishacoquillas,  and  Rev.  John 
j  Peebles,  late  pastor  of  the  church  of  Huntingdon.  Mr.  Moore  died 
on  the  15th  of  April,  and  Mr.  Peebles  on  the  11th  of  August  fol- 
lowing. 

The  Rev.  Messrs.  Junkin  and  Linn  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
prepare  a  minute  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Moore,  who  reported  the  fol- 
lowing, which  was  unanimously  adopted,  viz : 

"  The  Presbytery  having  learned  with  profound  regret  of  the  death  of 
our  beloved  brother  in  the  ministry,  the  Rev.  Joshua  Moore,  late  pastor 
of  the  congregation  of  East  Kishacoquillas,  it  was  ordered  that  this  minute 
be  adopted  in  reference  to  his  lamented  departure.  Our  brother  was  pre- 
sented from  attending  the  last  stated  meeting  by  the  illness  which  resulted 
i:i  his  death,  but  at  that  time  we  little  apprehended  that  our  Presbytery 
and  his  congregation  would  be  so  suddenly  bereaved,  yet  after  an  illness  of 
less  than  a  week  he  tell  asleep  in  Jesus  on  the  loth  day  of  April,  1854.  In 
recording  the  death  of  this  excellent  brother,  this  Presbytery  bear  testi- 
mony to  his  worth  as  a  man  of  God,  and  a  learned,  faithful,  and  devoted 
minister  of  Christ.  His  lovely  and  beloved  memory  shall  long  live 
amongst  us.  His  meekness,  his  urbanity,  his  brotherly  kindness,  his  con- 
sistent piety,  his  love  for  souls  and  his  zeal  for  the  glory  of  the  Master, 
were  such  as  to  endear  him  to  this  Presbytery,  and  to  the  people  of  God; 
and  whilst  these  assure  us  of  the  peace  and  triumph  of  his  death,  they  en- 
hance our  sense  of  the  bereavement  we  have  Sustained.  His  family  and  his 
congergation  are  assured  of  the  tenderest  condolence  of  this  Presbytery, 
and  whilst  we  mourn  his  departure,  we  ought  to  be  admonished  by  it  to  be 
also  ready.  'With  us  his  name  shall  live  through  long  succeeding  years, 
embalmed  with  all  our  hearts  can  give,  fond  memories  and  tears.'  " 

The  Rev.  Oliver  O.  McClean  was  appointed  to  prepare  an  obituary 
notice,  and  bring  in  a  minute  on  the  death  of  Rev.  John  Peebles. 
Mr.  McClean  presented  the  following,  which  was  also  heartily  adopted 
by  Presbytery,  viz  : 

"  In  recording  the  death  of  this  excellent  brother,  Presbytery  would  ex- 
press its  sense  of  great  loss.     The  departure  of  a  minister  is  always  a  sad 


HISTORY    OF    THE   PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  165 

bereavement,  but  the  decease  of  such  a  man  as  he  was,  whose  loss  we  now 
mourn,  is  indeed  a  special  calamity.  We  miss  his  wisdom  and  discretion  in 
oar  counsels,  and  his  agreeable  intercourse  in  private.  But  the  church  of 
Christ  particularly  feels  the  stroke  of  the  affliction.  For  nearly  a  quarter 
of  a  century  he  labored  for  her  prosperity.  And  the  fact  of  his  long  settle- 
ment in  an  important  field,  attests  the  fidelity  with  which  he  discharged 
his  duties,  whilst  the  reluctance  with  which  his  people  agreed  to  a  separa- 
tion, indicates  their  high  satisfaction  with  his  ministry.  Thankful  that  God 
permitted  us  to  enjoy  his  presence  so  long,  and  recollecting  with  great 
pleasure  the  Christian  graces  that  adorned  his  character,  (especially  those 
of  humility,  meekness  and  fraternal  kindness,)  and  how  well  in  every  walk 
in  life  he  illustrated  by  holy  living,  the  gospel  he  preached,  the  Presbytery 
rejoice  in  the  confident  hope  that  he  has  gone  by  the  door  of  Christ's  blood 
to  the  rest  of  the  people  of  G-od." 

The  brethren  who  prepared  the  above  obituary  notices  of  the  be- 
loved Moore  and  Peebles,  were  warm  hearted  men,  capable  of  appre- 
ciating the  Christian  and  ministerial  excellencies  of  the  beloved  dead, 
yet  not  one  word  in  all  that  they  have  expressed,  but  is  literally  true 
without  the  slightest  exaggeration. 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  April  10,  1855,  the  Rev. 
Miles  T.  Merwln  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick, 
and  Rev.  Messrs.  F.  A.  Pratt  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Dane,  and  George  W.  Shaeffer  from  the  Presbytery  of  Allegheny. 
The  latter  was  called  to  the  congregation  of  Shirleysburg  for  one-half 
of  his  time,  and  the  call  being  accepted,  Messrs.  Elliott,  Morrison 
and  Sterrett  were  appointed  a  committee  of  installation  at  a  time  to 
be  agreed  on  among  themselves. 

Mr.  Thomas  Spears,  a  licentiate  from  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone, 
was  called  by  the  congregation  of  Little  Valley,  but  being  a  foreign 
licentiate,  and  not  having  completed  the  time  of  probation,  the  call 
was  retained  in  the  hands  of  Presbytery  till  his  papers  had  passed 
the  review  of  Synod.  At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  Presbytery,  held 
at  Little  Valley,  November  13,  1855,  Mr.  Spears  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled pastor  of  said  church. 

On  the  10th  of  April,  Rev.  Lowman  P.  Hawes  was  dismissed  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Iowa.  Rev.  B.  E.  Collins  at  this  time  received  calls  i 
from  the  churches  of  Morris  and  Moshannon,  and  Messrs.  Linn, 
Copper  and  Gibson  were  appointed  a  committee  to  install  him  at  a 
time  agreed  on  by  themselves.  Rev.  James  J.  Hamilton  gave  notice 
of  his  purpose  to  resign  the  charge  of  the  congregation  of  Curwins- 
ville.     At  the  adjourned  meeting  held  in  June  following,  the  congre- 


166  HISTORY   OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

gation  having  signified  their  consent,  the  pastoral  relation  was  dis- 
solved. The  Rev.  Nathan  Shotwell  was  received  in  April  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Washington,  Pa.  A  call  from  the  congregation  of  East 
Kishacoquillas  for  his  pastoral  services  was  laid  before  Presbytery, 
and  accepted  by  him;  Drs.  Junkin,  Woods  and  Thompson  were  ap- 
pointed the  committee  of  installation. 

Mr.  William  R.  Boyer,  after  the  usual  examination,  was  received 
under  the  care  of  Presbytery  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry,  and 
recommended  for  aid  to  the  Board  of  Education. 

The  Rev.  S.  H.  McDonald  having  offered  his  resignation  of  the  pas- 
toral charge  of  the  congregation  of  West  Kishacoquillas,  at  the 
previous  Fall  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  and  the  congregation  con- 
senting, the  pastoral  relation  was  at  this  time  dissolved. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  in  June  the  Rev.  D.  Sterrett  requested 
liberty  to  resign  the  charge  of  McVeytown  and  Newton  Hamilton 
congregations,  and  at  the  stated  meeting  in  October  his  request  was 
granted.  At  a  special  meeting  held  at  Hollidaysburg,  August  14,  Rev. 
James  Smith  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Allegheny. 

The  stated  Fall  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  was  held  at  Bellefonte, 
at  which  calls  were  laid  before  Prespytery  from  the  churches  of 
•  McVeytown  and  Newton  Hamilton  for  Mr.  Richard  H.  Morrow,  a 
licentiate  of  this  Presbytery ;  but  as  Mr.  Morrow  had  requested  a 
dismission  to  the  Presbytery  of  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  the  following 
action  was  had  by  Presbytery,  viz  : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  request  of  Mr.  Morrow  be  granted. 

Resolved,  That  while  Presbyter y  grant  the  request,  they  would  not 
hereby  be  considered  as  intimating  what  may  be  his  duty  as  to  remaining 
in  the  West,  or  returning  at  the  calls  of  the  churches  of  McVeytown  and 
Newton  Hamilton." 


£ 


Mr.  Morrow  was  then  in  Iowa. 

Mr.  Robert  F.  Wilson,  a  licentiate,  was  at  the  same  time  dismissed 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle.  Calls  from  the  congregations  of  Fruit 
Hill  and  Mt.  Pleasant  were  laid  before  Presbytery  for  the  Rev.  J.  J. 
Hamilton. 

Letters  were  received  from  the  Board  of  Education  and  from  the 
Committee  of  Church  Extension  located  at  St.  Louis.  The  usual 
series  of  resolutions  were  passed,  commending  these  objects  to  the 
prayers  and  liberality  of  the  churches.  The  Presbytery  never  failed, 
upon  their  attention  being  called  to  these  objects,  to  abound  in 
strongly  worded  resolutions ;  as  wag  undoubtedly  the  practical  expe- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON'.  167 

rience  of  all  the  Presbyteries.  But  the  subject  of  Systematic  Benevo- 
lence seriously  engaged  the  attention  of  the  Presbytery  at  this  time. 
A  committee  had  been  appointed  a  year  before  to  prepare  a  report  on 
this  subject,  and  at  this  time  reported  the  following  paper,  viz : 

"Resolved,  1st.  That  love  to  the  Church  cause  is  an  essential  element  of 
christian  piety,  and  regular  communication  of  our  worldly  substance  ac- 
cording as  God  has  prospered  us,  an  ordinary  important  part  of  practical 
religion.  t 

Resolved,  2d.  That  accordingly  it  is  as  much  the  duty  of  the  pastors  and 
officers  of  the  Church  to  make  arrangements  for  the  cultivation  of  the  grace 
of  benevolence  for  the  performance  of  this  part  of  practical  religion  as  for 
any  other  of  the  offices  of  religion  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  3d.  That  it  be  affectionately  enjoined  upon  the  pastors  and  other 
appropriate  officers  of  the  churches  to  adopt  and  put  into  efficient  operation 
some  plan  for  making  regular  collections  for  the  four  Boards  of  the  Church, 
and  the  Assembly's  Committee  of  Church  Extension,  so  that  a  contribution 
for  .each  shall  be  made  at  least  once  every  year.  And  it  is  further  enjoined, 
that  one  or  other  of  the  following  plans  be  adopted  by  each  church,  pro- 
vided there  is  not  one  equally  efficient  already  in  operation: 

Plan  1st.  A  card,  or  book  with  the  names  of  all  the  members  of  the  con- 
gregation upon  it,  with  the  columns  for  weekly,  or  monthly,  or  quarterly 
sums,  such  as  they  may  voluntarily  offer  to  pay.  The  sums  to  be  paid 
either  to  the  elders,  the  deacons,  or  to  persons  specially  appointed  in  each 
district  of  the  congregation. 

2d.  Monthly  collections  in  the  Church  to  be  divided  amongst  the  Boards 
at  the  discretion  of  the  deacons  or  elders. 

3d.  A  quarterly  sermon  in  behalf  of  the  Boards,  assigning  a  quarter  to 
each,  to  be  followed  by  a  collection  or  subscription  for  the  Board  whose 
cause  was  advocated  in  the  sermon." 

Another  committee,  which  had  been  appointed  also  at  a  previous 
meeting,  to  take  into  consideration  the  desirableness  and  expediency 
of  appointing  one  or  more  itinerant  missionaries  to  labor  in  the  desti- 
tute fields  and  feeble  congregations  in  our  bounds,  also,  at  this 
meeting,  reported  favorably  to  the  object,  with  an  indication  of  plans 
for  the  carrying  it  into  effect.  The  report  was  adopted,  and  arrange- 
ments made  for  putting  it  into  immediate  operation.  It  proved  to 
be  an  entire  success,  and  this  very  year  (1872)  the  Presbytery  had  the 
satisfaction  of  ordaining  and  installing  a  young  man  as  permanent 
pastor  over  the  prineij^al  points  of  the  missionary  field  :  contemplated 
self-supporting,  or  almost  so;  perhaps  entirely  at  this  time. 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  October,  1854,  a  church 
was  organized  out  of  parts  of  the  congregations   of   Alexandria   and 


168  HISTORY    OP    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON'. 

Shaver's  Creek,  the  ecclesiastical  centre  of  which  was  to  be  at  Shaver's 
Creek  bridge,  called  the  Cottage  Church.  At  an  adjourned  meeting 
held  on  the  18th  day  of  October,  1855,  this  church  presented  a  call  for 
?  the  pastoral  services  of  the  Rev.  Richard  Currax,  late  pastor  of 
shaver's  Creek  congregation. 

Mr.  Curran  had  been  previously  dismissed  by  letter  to  connect  him- 
self with  the  2d  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  but  having  returned  the 
certificate  ♦f  dismission,  his  name  was  restored  to  the  roll  of  Presby 
tery,  and  the  call  from  the  Cottage  Church  being  put  into  his  hands 
y<\  and  accepted  by  him.  Messrs.  George  Elliott,  O.  0.  McClean  and 
;  Thomas  Stevenson  were  ajjpointed  a  committee  to  install  him  over 
the  said  church. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting,  held  January  8,  1856,  Mr.  R.  F.  Wil- 
son had  his  certificate  of  dissmission  changed  from  the  Presbytery 
of  Carlisle  to  Cedar  Presbytery,  Iowa.  And  the  Rev.  John  Elliott 
was  elected  presbyterial  missionary  ;  and  his  pastoral  relation  to  the 
congregation  of  Williamsburg  was  dissolved  at  the  stated  meeting 
in  April  following,  to  enable  him  to  accept  of  the  missionary  ap- 
pointment. This  was  much  displeasing  to  the  congregation,  and  in 
consequence  they  refused  to  contribute  to  the  fund  for  the  support  of 
the  missionary.  It  is  believed  that  they  never  contributed  any  thing 
to  the  missionary  fund,  even  under  several  changes  of  missionaries,  so 
permanent  was  their  displeasure. 

Calls  from  the  churches  of  McVeytown  and  Newton  Hamilton  for 
Rev.  David  D.  Clarke  were,  laid  before  Presbytery,  and  liberty  was 
granted  to  prosecute  them  before  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  of  which 
lie  was  a  member.  At  an  adjourned  meeting  held  at  Newton  Hamilton, 
June  3,  1856,  Mr.  Clarke  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle 
and  installed  pastor  of  the  above  named  churches.  At  the  stated 
meeting  in  April  preceding,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Junkin  was  called  to  the 
1st  Presbyterian  Church  of  Ft.  Wayne;  which  call  he  afterwards  de- 
clined. The  Sessions  of  the  Presbytery  at  this  time  closed  with  the 
adoption  of  the  narrative  of  the  state  of  religion  within  its  bounds. 
The  character  of  the  narrative  may  be  inferred  from  the  few  first  sen- 
tences, as  follows  :  "  The  Presbytery  would  report  on  the  state  of  reli- 
gion in  their  bounds,  that  nothing  has  occurred  during  the  past  year 
that  claims  special  attention.  Our  churches  generally  are  in  a  grow- 
ing condition.  A  good  degree  of  harmony  prevails.  The  public 
means  of  grace  have  been  well  attended,''  Ac,  Ac. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  169 

Occasionally  cases  of  discipline  came  before  Presbytery  by  complaint 
or  appeal ;  but  no  case  of  discipline  was  for  the  last  thirty  years  car- 
ried from  the  Presbytery  to  a  higher  court.  The  decision  of  the 
Presbytery  was  accepted  as  final.  At  this  time  notice  of  appeal  to 
Synod  from  the  judgment  of  the  Presbytery  in  a  judicial  case  was 
given,  but  the  appeal  never  was  prosecuted. 

The  Presbytery  met  in  October,  1856,  at  Sinking  Valley.     At  tliis 
stated  meeting  Mr.  J.  H.  Mathers,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery,  was 
ordained   as  an  Evangelist,  and  Mr.  Alexander  Miller  Woods  was    ., 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel. 

The  first  report  of  the  itinerant  missionary,  Kev.  John  Elliott,  was 
made  to  the  Presbytery  at  this  time,  in  reference  to  which  the  follow- 
ing minute  was  adopted,  viz  : 

"Presbytery  having  heard  the  report  of  our  Itinerant  Missionary,  ex- 
press their  satisfaction  with  his  diligence,  and  their  gratification  at  the 
favorable  indications  for  usefulness  resulting  from  this  agency,  and  they 
express  the  hope  that  our  pastors  and  people  will  continue  in  increased 
measure  to  favor  this  work  with  their  prayers  and  pecuniary  aid." 

As  the  result  of  Mr.  Elliott's  missionary  labors  a  church  was  or- 
ganized at  Tyrone  city,  April  7,  1857,  consisting  of  twelve  members, 
and  two  elders,  Adam  Lifford  and  Joseph  Hagerty.  It  has  since 
become  a  strong  and  flourishing  church.  The  Rev.  John  Moore  pre- 
sented a  certificate  of  dismission  from  the  Presbytery  of  Saltsburg  to 
.connect  himself  with  this  Presbytery,  and  a  call  from  the  congrega- 
tion of  Williamsburg  was  ]>ut  into  his  hands,  accepted  by  him,  and  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  install  him  on  the  22d  of  May,  consisting 
of  Messrs.  Gibson,  McClean  and  John  Elliott.  Messrs.  I).  W.  Fisher. 
James  A.  Reed,  and  James  H.  Wilson  were  received  under  the  care  of  >^> 
Presbytery  as  candidates  for  the  gospel  ministry.  The  Rev.  Samuel  ,V 
Lawrence,  pastor  of  the  church  of  Milroy,  tendered  his  resignation  of 
the  charge,  assigning  as  a  reason  that  a  majority  of  the  congregation 
had  voted  in  favor  of  a  union  between  that  church  and  East  Kishaco- 
quillas.  A  paper  was  presented  and  read,  in  which  the  congregation 
express  assent  to  the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation,  and  in  which 
those  present  engage  to  pay  their  usual  stipend  to  him  up  to  the  1st 
<>f  April,  1858,  and  recommend  all  the  other  members  of  the  congre- 
gaiton  to  do  likewise.  Dr.  Junkin  moved,  "that  the  congregation  be 
cited  according  to  the  Form  of  Government.  Chap.  XVII,  to  show 
cause,  and  explain  the  reasons  of  their  assent  to  the  dissolution  of 
the  relation."     After  some  discussion,   Dr.  Gibson  moved  "that   Or. 


170  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON. 

Junkin's  motion  be  postponed,  in  order  to  take  up  one  which  he  read, 
proposing  the  immediate  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation."  This 
motion  was  lost,  and  Dr.  Junkin's  motion  to  cite  the  congregation, 
was  adopted.  But  the  next  day  Dr.  Woods,  who  had  not  voted  on 
the  question,  but  was  reckoned  with  the  majority,  moved  a  recon- 
sidderation  of  the  motion  passed  the  night  before.  The  motion  to 
reconsider  was  adopted,  and  the  substitute  offered  by  Dr.  Gibson  was 
taken  up,  amended  and  passed,  and  is  as  follows : 

"1st.  Resolved,  That  the  request  of  Mr.  Lawrence  be  granted  in  view 
of  the  ascertained  consent  of  the  congregation  to  the  dissolution  of  the  pas- 
toral relation,  and  that  the  church  of  Milroy  be  declared  vacant  from  and 
after  the  19th  of  April  instant. 

2d.  Resolved,  That  the  Presbytery  highly  approve  the  purpose  of  the 
congregation  to  continue  Mr.  Lawrence's  salary  until  the  1st  of  April. 
1858,  and  hereby  commend  them  for  their  expressed  purpose. 

3d.  Resolved,  That  Rev.  D.  Sterrett  be  appointed  to  preach  to  that 
congregation  on  the  2d  Sabbath  of  May,  and  to  declare  the  pulpit  vacant.'' 

At  this  time  (April,  1857)  the  Itinerant  Missionary  made  a  report  of 
his  labors  for  the  last  six  months,  and  intimated  his  desire  to  retire 
from  the  field,  whereupon  the  following  resolution  was  unanimously 
passed  : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  manner  in  which  our  missionary  has  performed  his 
arduous  duties  meets  with  the  hearty  approbation  of  Presbytery  ;  that  we 
rejoice  in  the  results  of  his  labors,  and  that  if  compatible  with  his  sense  of 
duty,  he  be  requested  to  continue  in  our  service  another  year." 

Rev.  N.  Shotwell  at  this  time  gave  notice  of  his  desire  to  resign 
the  charge  of  the  congregation  of  East  Kishacoquillas,  and  the  con- 
gregation was  cited  to  appear  at  the  next  stated  meeting  and  give 
their  reasons  for  or  against  granting  his  request.  Also  Rev.  Wm.  J. 
X  Gtibson  requested  leave  to  resign  the  pastoral  charge  of  Lick  Run  con- 
gregation, on  account  of  inadequate  support. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  held  at  Lick  Run,  Centre  county,  June  9. 
1857,  the  Rev.  A.  B.  Pratt  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Dane. 
Mr.  Pratt  had  been  principally  engaged  in  teaching  while  a  mem- 
ber of  our  Presbytery,  and  never  had  any  charge  of  a  congregation 
within  its  bounds.  Rev.  W.  S.  Morrison,  on  account  of  ill  health,  was 
compelled  to  resign  the  pastoral  charge  of  Upper  Tuscarora  and  Little 
Aughwick  churches.  A  letter  was  received  from  Tyrone  city  in  con- 
nection with  Warrior's  Mark,  asking  for  the  one-half  of  Mr.  John  El- 
liott's time ;    whereupon  Presbytery  requested  him  to  continue  his 


HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  171 

labors  as  heretofore,  accepting  the  invitation  of  Tyrone  city  and 
Warrior's  Mark,  until  the  next  meeting  of  the  Presbytery.  The  con- 
gregation of  Clearfield  presented  a  call  for  the  Kev.  John  M. 
Galloway,  of  the  Presbytery  of  Steubenville,  and  obtained  liberty  to 
prosecute  it  before  said  Presbytery.  The  consideration  of  requesl 
of  Dr.  Gibson  for  the  dissolution  of  his  pastoral  relation  to  Lick  Run 
congregation,  made  at  the  stated  meeting  in  April,,  was,  with  his  con- 
sent, deferred  till  the  next  stated  meeting.  The  Rev.  D.  L.  Hughes'  r 
gave  notice  of  his  design  to  resign  the  pastoral  charge  of  Spruce 
Creek  1st  and  Sinking  Valley. 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Mahon,  an  agent  of  the  Pennsylvania  Colonization 
Society,  being  present,  addressed  the  Presbytery  on  that  subject ; 
when  the  following  resolution  was  offered  by  Dr.  Gibson  and  adopted  : 

"The  Presbytery  having  heard  some  interesting  statements  from  Rev. 
Joseph  Mahon,  agent  of  the  Pennsylvania  Colonization  Society,  in  refer- 
ence to  the  colonization  cause,  do  most  heartily  recommend  said  cause  to 
the  affections  and  liberality  of  our  churches." 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  held  at  Altoona,  October.— 
1857,  Rev.  S.  Lawrence,  who  had  been  appointed  treasurer  on  the  _j- 
decease  of  Rev.  Joshua _  Moore,  resigned  the  office,  and  Rev.  David  Dfjf 
Clarke  was  ajjpointed  in  his  stead. 

At  this  time  the  pastoral  relation  of  Rev.  D.  L.  Hughes  to  the  con-  J^ 
gregations  of  Spruce  Creek  1st.  and  Sinking  Valley  was  dissolved, 
according  to  his  request  made  at  the  previous  meeting ;  and  he  was 
dismissed  from  this  Presbytery  to  join  the  Presbytery  of  Council 
Bluffs,  Iowa.  The  following  resolution  was  passed  in  reference  ti> 
this  event : 

"  Resolved,  That  in  sundering  the  ties  that  bind  this  brother  to  us  presby- 
terially,  and  us  to  him,  this  Presbytery  entertain  a  sentiment  of  sincere 
regret.  His  gentle,  lovely  and  laborious  life  amongst  us,  and  his  uniform 
kindness  and  dignity  as  a  pastor  and  a  presbyter,  have  endeared  him  to  us  ; 
and  whilst  we  assure  him  of  our  best  wishes  and  our  prayers,  we  commend 
him  to  the  confidence  and  affection  of  all  christian  people  in  the  distant 
field  in  which  he  expects  to  bestow  his  future  labors." 

Messrs.  Alexander  MgBean,  William  0.  Wilson  of  Lower  Tusca- 
rora  congregation,  and  Edmond  Kerns  of  Little  Valley,  were  received 
under  the  care  of  Presbytery  as  candidates  for  the  ministry ;  and 
recommended  for  aid  to  the  Board  of  Education. 

The  pastoral  relation  of  Rev.  N.  Shotwell  to  the  congregation  of 
East  Kishacoquillas  was  at  this  time  dissolved,  according  to  his  request 


172  HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

made  at  a  previous  meeting ;  and  he  and  Mr.  Lawrence  asked  and 
obtained  travelling  testimonials. 

The  Rev.  John  Elliott  received  two  calls,  one  to  Sinking  Valley 
and  Spruce  Creek  1st,  and  the  other  to  Tyrone  city  and  Birmingham. 
He  asked  time  to  consider ;  but  ultimately  accepted  the  calls  to  the 
former  churches,  and  was  installed  their  pastor,  December  1, 1857.  Al- 
though Mr.  Elliott  had  retired  from  the  missionary  field,  and  become 
a  settled  pastor,  the  Presbytery  still  resolved  to  cultivate  such  parts 
of  the  itinerant  field  as  may  be  vacant  at  the  close  of  the  present  ses- 
sion of  Presbytery ;  and  therefore  resolved  to  continue  the  committee 
on  itinerancy,  and  directed  them  to  make  prompt  and  earnest  efforts 
to  introduce  some  efficient  laborer  or  laborers  into  the  field. 

The  Rev.  M.  S.  Culbertson  of  the  Ningpo  Mission,  being  present, 
preached  by  invitation  of  Presbytery,  and  presented  some  interesting 
statements  in  regard  to  China,  and  the  other  fields  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions; and  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Hamill,  D.  D.  Clarke,  and  Thomas 
McAuley,  elder,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  report  a  minute  ex- 
pressive of  the  sympathy  of  this  Presbytery  with  our  suffering  breth- 
ren in  India.  This  was  about  the  time  of  the  Sepoy  rebellion,  when 
some  of  our  missionaries  were  slain  by  the  rebels, 

The  following  day  Mr.  Hamill  reported  the  following,  viz : 

" Resolved,  1st.  That  the  trials,  perils,  and  the  sufferings  of  the  missiona- 
ries of  our  own  Board,  and  other  missionary  societies,  by  reason  of  the 
mutiny  of  the  native  troops  in  India,  have  awakened  our  deepest  sympa- 
thies and  most  earnest  solicitude,  and  call  for  increased  interest  and  prayers 
in  their  behalf. 

2d.  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  Presbytery  this  rage  of  the  heathen  is  no 
new  thing,  but  is  what  the  church  from  Apostolic  times  to  the  present  has 
been  called  to  encounter  and  must  expect,  and  that  it  furnishes  no  argument 
against  the  glorious  missionary  enterprise,  and  so  far  from  proving  a  dis- 
couragement ought  to  stimulate  the  Church  to  more  confident  hope,  and 
more  zealous  and  earnest  efforts  in  sustaining  the  foreign  missionary  work. 

3d.  That  the  pastors,  elders  and  people,  in  connection  with  this  Presby- 
tery, be  affectionately  urged,  in  view  of  these  and  other  signs  of  the  times, 
to  increased  zeal,  liberality  and  prayer  in  behalf  of  Foreign  Missions." 

Near  the  close  of  this  session  of  the  Presbytery  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  three  members  was  appointed  as  a  standing  committee  on 
the  subject  of  aged  and  infirm  ministers,  who  may  need  aid  from  the 
General  Assembly's  fund  for  that  object. 

At  the  stated  meeting  in  October  of  this  year,  the  following  action 
was  had  on  the  oath,  and  on  the  subject  of  temperance,  viz  : 


HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON.  173 

" Resolved,  That  the  members  of  our  several  congregations  be  counsel- 
ed, when  lawfully  called  to  take  the  oath  before  the  civil  magistrate,  to 
adopt  that  form  of  the  oath  prescribed  in  the  laws  of  the  Commonwealth 
which  seems  to  be  recognized  in  the  Scriptures,  viz  ;  with  the  uplifted 
hand. 

2d.  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  Presbytery  the  ordinance  of  the  oath, 
which  is  recognized  in  our  Confession  of  Faith  as  a  part  of  religious  wor- 
ship, is  not  explained  from  the  pulpit  with  sufficient  frequency." 

Presbyterians  have  always  held  that  it  was  lawful  and  a  duty  for 
christians  to  come  under  the  solemn  obligations  of  an  oath,  when  pro- 
perly called  to  it,  the  occasion  being  of  sufficient  importance  to  justify 
an  appeal  to  God  for  the  settling  of  strife  between  man  and  man  in 
the  interests  of  justice.  But'  intelligent  Presbyterians  have  always 
objected  to  swearing  by  or  on  The  Book  as  superstitious,  and  also  to 
all  extra-judicial  oaths,  as  a  profanation  of  an  ordinance  of  God.  The 
unnecessary  frequency,  and  the  general  irreverence  with  which  oaths 
are  administered  and  taken  in  our  courts  of  justice,  have  been  a  great 
grief  to  the  conscience  of  all  thinking  and  religious  persons.  As  to 
the  substitution  of  the  "solemn  affirmation"  instead  of  the  usual  form  of 
the  oath,  this  is  objectionable  mainly  on  the  supposition  that  the  per- 
son thus  affirming  does  not  deem  himself  under  equal  obligation  to 
tell  the  whole  truth,  and  equally  responsible  to  the  judgment  of  God 
for  a  false  testimony.  If  this  be  not  implied,  then  it  may  be  permit- 
ted as  a  relief  to  weak  consciences,  but  is  in  reality  and  in  substance 
the  oath,  and  is  only  an  evasion,  harmless  or  otherwise,  just  as  the 
person  thinks  of  it. 

We  record  the  action  of  the  Presbytery  at  this  time  on  the  subject 
of  temperance,  just  to  show  that  the  opinion  of  Presbytery  has  been 
uniformly  and  unanimously  in  favor  of  the  temperance  reformation 
from  the  beginning.  The  following  resolution  was  offered  by  Rev.  0. 
0.  McClean  (now  Dr.  McClean)  and  unanimously  adopted,  viz : 

"  Resolved,  That  this  Presbytery  considers  the  Temperance  Reformation 
of  undiminished  importance,  and  that  every  minister  belonging  to  the  Pres- 
bytery be  requested  to  deliver  one  or  more  discourses  upon  the  subject  of 
temperance  before  the  close  of  the  present  year." 


CHAPTER   IX. 


FROM  1858  TO  1865. 

Changes — Beulah  Church  Organized — Overture  on  Demission  of  the  Ministry — Rev.  G.  W. 
Zahnizer  Received,  and  Accepts  a  Call — Rev.  M.  Allison  asks  leave  to  Resign  his  Charge — 
The  Semi-Centenary  of  Dr.  Linn — Mode  of  Ordaining  Elders — Mr.  S.  M.  Moore  Received  as  a 
Licentiate — Messrs.  D.  W.  Fisher  and  N.  A.  McDonald  Ordained  as  Evangelists  with  a  view 
to  Foreign  Missions — Changes  in  the  Book  of  Discipline  and  the  Boards  proposed — Deaths  of 
Rev.  Samuel  M.  Cooper,  Rev.  George  Gray,  and  Mr.  Nelson,  a  Licentiate — The  Rev.  J.  B. 
Strain  from  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  and  Rev.  W.  G.  E.  Agnew  Received  from  the  M.  E. 
Church — The  Expenses  of  Installation  Committees  to  be  Paid — Adjourned  Meetings — Dr. 
Junkin  Released — Mr.  R.  B.  Moore,  a  Licentiate  Received — Rev.  J.  H.  Barnard  Called  to  be 
co-pastor  with  Dr.  Linn — Rev.  D.  H.  Barron — Death  of  Dr.  J.  S.  Woods — Mr.  Oscar  A.  Hills 
— Relief  Fund — Of  Isabella  C.  Robinson — The  Ashmun  Institute — The  Revised  Book  of 
Discipline — Licensure  of  Mr.  J.  P.  Beale,  and  Reception  of  Rev.  J.  H,  Ilolloway — Rev.  Jas.  C. 
Mahon  Received— Death  of  Rev.  A.  B.  Clarke— Mr.  Banks  Called  the  Third  Time  to  Altoona 
— Overture — Distribution  Fund  of  the  Board  of  Publication — Paper  on  the  State  of  the 
Country — Mr.  Wm.  E.  Ijams— Mr.  J.  E.  Kearns  Licensed— Rev.  R.  M.  Wallace  Called  to 
Altoona— Mr.  W.  0.  Wright— Death  of  Rev.  G.  W.  Thompson,  D.  D.— Rev.  John  Moore  Re- 
signs his  Charge — Congregational  Supplies — Rev.  Dr.  Knox  and  the  Board  of  Domestic 
Missions — Last  Appearance  of  the  Venerable  Dr.  Linn  in  Presbytery — Rev.  N.  G.  White 
Called  to  Williamsburg — Committee  on  Unemployed  Ministers — Board  of  Foreign  Missions 
— State  of  Religion — Suggested  Increase  of  Pastor's  Salaries — Resolution  in  Regard  to  Sab. 
bath  School  Libraries — V.  S.  Christian  Commission — Revivals — Roll  of  Presbytery. 


fPHE  year  1858  is  chiefly  remarkable  for  the  number  of   changes 
which  took  place  in  the  congregations  and  their  pastors.     The 


1 


Rev,  James  Campbell  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Highlands. 
Kansas;  and  the  Rev.  W.  S.  Garthwaite  to  the  Presbytery  of  North 
River.  These  brethren  had  never  held  any  pastoral  chai-ge  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Presbytery,  but  had  been  engaged  in  teaching ;  the 
former  at  Jacksonville,  Centre  county,  the  latter  in  Tuscarora  Valley. 
Juniata  county. 
,  ■<)  The  Rev.  George  Elliott's  pastoral  relation  to  the  church  of  Alex- 
andria was  dissolved  on  the  13th  of  April,  and,  on  the  same  day,  Rev. 
B.  E.  Collins'  relation  to  the  congregations  of  Moshannon  and  Morris. 
The  Rev.  Andrew  Jardine,  having  at  a  previous  meeting  given  notice 
of  his  desire  to  resign  his  pastoral  charge,  his  relation  as  pastor  of 
Middle  Tuscarora  congregation  was  dissolved  at  this  time  also.  And 
yet  two  more  pastoral  relations  were  dissolved  at  the  request  of  the 


HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESBVTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON.  175 

pastors  and  with  the  concurrence  of  the  congregations :  that  of  the 
Rev.  T.  P.  Spears  to  the  congregation  of  Little  Valley,  and  that  of 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Stevenson  to  Pine  Grove. 

There  were  at  the  same  meeting,  and  at  the  next  following  of  this 
year,  some  accesions  to  the  roll  of  Presbytery  and  of  pastors  to  the 
churches.     The  Rev.  John  M.  Galloway  was  received  from  the  Presby^_j 
tery  of  Steuben ville,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  church  of  Clearfield. 
The  Rev.  Jno.  W.  White  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  J 
and  installed  pastor  of  the  church  of  Milroy,  Kishacoquillas  Valley ; 
and  the  Rev.  James  Williamson  accepted  a  call  tendered  him  at  the    jl' 
former  meeting,  and  was  installed  pastor  of  the  church  of  West  Kisha- 
coquillas.    The  following  young  men  were  received  under  the  care  of 
Presbytery  as  candidates  for  the  ministry,  viz :  Messrs.  Daniel  Bos- 
worth,  Jos.  A.  Patterson,  Abram  D.  Hawn  and  James  J.  Kerr.     Mr. 
James  H.  Reed,  a  candidate  for  the  ministry,  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  Gospel  at  the  adjourned  meeting  held  in  June. 

At  the  stated  meeting  in  the  Fall,  Mr.  Wm.  Burchfield  was  taken 
under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  and  the  Rev.  M.  Allison  of  Mifflin,  his 
pastor,  was  appointed  to  superintend  his  theological  studies.  The 
Rev.  George  Elliott  received  and  accepted  a  call  from  East  Kishaco-'J 
quillas  congregation,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  install  him  on 
the  2d  Wednesday  of  November  following. 

Mr.  Samuel  T.  Lowrie,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  was 
received ;  a  call  presented  for  him,  through  the  Presbytery,  from  the 
church  of  Alexandria;  and  being  accepted  by  him,  an  adjourned 
meeting  was  appointed  to  be  held  at  Alexandria  on  the  7th  day  of 
December  following,  at  which  time  he  was  ordained  and  installed.  At 
the  same  meeting  the  Rev.  Israel  W.  Ward,  and  Thomas  Ward,  a 
licentiate,  were  dismissed  by  certificate  to  the  Presbytery  of  Chicago ; 
and  the  Rev.  T.  P.  Spears  to  the  Presbytery  of  New  Lisbon. 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  in  October  of  this  year,  an 
afternoon  of  one  day  was  devoted  to  a  conference  on  the  subject  of  a 
revival  of  religion.  It  will  be  remembered  that  this  year  had  been 
noted  for  somewhat  extensive  revivals  of  religion  in  various  parts  of 
the  land.  The  following  topics  were  indicated  as  proper  subjects  for 
discussion,  viz : 

"1st.  What  reason  have  we  to  hope  or  expect  that  the  present  great 
awakening  will  be  extended  to  the  congregations  of  this  Presbytery  ? 

2d.  Are  we  called  on  in  the  providence  of  God,  as  a  Presbytery,  or  as 
ministers  and  elders,  to  make  any  special  efforts  to  such  an  end  ? 


1 


% 


176  HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

3d.  Assuming  that  a  revival  is  the  normal  state  of  the  Church,  why  have 
revivals  of  religion  for  years  past  generally  so  speedily  declined  ? 

4th.  How  are  we  as  God's  instruments  to  excite,  extend  and  perpetuate 
a  revival  state  of  feeling  within  the  hounds  of  this  Preshytery  and  our 
respective  congregations?" 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  held  at  Huntingdon,  Decem- 
ber 23,  1858,  the  pastoral  relation  of  Eev.  0.  0.  McClean  to  the  con- 
gregation of  Huntingdon  was  dissolved  at  his  request,  on  account  of 
his  failing  health,  and  a  temporary  rest  from  pastoral  labors  seemed  t<> 
be  necessary  for  its  restoration. 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  April,  1859,  the  following 
pastoral  relations  were  dissolved  at  the  request  of  the  pastors  and 
with  the  consent  of  the  congregations,  viz :  The  pastoral  relation  of 
the  Eev.  Richard  Curran  to  the  Cottage  church,  and  of  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Stevenson  to  the  2d  church  of  Spruce  Creek.  At  the  same 
meeting  Messrs.  N.  A.  McDonald,  Joseph  Patterson,  Joseph  Barnard 
and  Daniel  W.  Fisher,  candidates  under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  were 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel. 

A  committee  was  appointed,  at  the  request  of  twenty-one  persons, 
members  of  the  congregation  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  to  organize  them  into  a 
separate  congregation,  to  be  called  Beulah  congregation.  At  a  fol- 
lowing meeting  the  organization  was  reported  and  the  congregation 
entered  upon  the  list  of  churches.  An  overture  with  respect  to  the 
demission  of  the  ministerial  office  was  sent  down  to  the  Presbyteries 
by  the  General  Assembly  of  1858.  The  overture  will  be  found  on 
page  299  of  the  minutes  of  the  General  Assembly  of  that  year.  At 
the  Spring  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  1859  the  overture  was  con- 
sidered and  answered  in  the  negative. 

An  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  was  held  June  14th,  at 
which  the  Rev.  0.  0.  McClean  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Cedar,  Iowa,  and  the  Rev.  G.  W.  Zahnizer  was  received  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie,  and  a  call  put  into  his  hands  from  the  congrega- 
tion of  Huntingdon,  and  being  accepted  the  Presbytery  proceeded  to 
install  him. 

At  the  stated  meeting  in  April  the  Rev.  Matthew  Allison  having 
requested  leave  to  resign  his  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregations  of 
Mifflintown  and  Lost  Creek,  the  congregations  were  cited  to  appear 
and  show  cause,  it  any  they  had,  why  his  request  should  not  be 
granted;  at  this  adjourned  meeting  Mr.  Allison's  request  was  con- 
sidered, the  congregations  being  represented  by  their  commissioners. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON^  177 

[t  appearing  that  there  was  a  large  majority  of  the  people  of  both 
congregations  opposed  to  granting  Mr.  Allison's  request,  and  sti'ong- 
ly  in  favor  of  retaining  him  as  their  pastor;  notwithstanding  this 
action  of  the  congregations,  Mr.  Allison  renewed  his  request  to  be 
permitted  to  resign,  yet  the  Presbytery  refused  to  dissolve  the  pas- 
toral relation.  This  action  on  the  part  of  Presbytery  was  eminently 
wise,  as  proved  by  future  results.  The  minority  became  entirely 
reconciled ;  no  part  of  his  ministry  was  more  universally  acceptable 
and  successful  than  that  which  followed  till  the  end  of  his  ministry, 
and  none  grieved  more  than  the  minority,  when  death  dissolved  the 
pastoral  relation  in  1872.  This  case  is  given  with  some  particularity, 
for  the  purpose  of  suggesting  to  members  of  Presbyteries  whether 
they  are  not  apt  to  be  too  hasty  in  dissolving  pastoral  relations  at  the 
request  of  the  pastor  who  makes  it  under  temporary  discouragement 
from  some  untoward  conduct  in  a  few  members  of  his  charge?  In 
cases  where  the  congregation  concurs  in  the  request  of  the  jiastor,  the 
case  is  somewhat  altered,  yet  even  in  such  a  case  it  is  not  always  clear 
that  the  pastoral  relation  ought  to  be  dissolved.  In  nine  cases  out  of 
ten  the  congregations  concur,  not  because  they  want  the  separation. 
but  because  they  suppose  the  pastor  wants  to  leave  them,  and  they 
would  not  retain  an  unwilling  man.  This  feeling  in  congregations 
is  altogether  natural,  if  not  always  just,  and  the  remedy  is  to  be  found 
in  the  Presbytery.  Those  ministers  who  are  constantly  removing  for 
the  sake  of  change,  and  on  the  suspicious  plea  of  enlarging  their 
sphere  of  usefulness,  we  would  commend  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  that  the  desire  may  be  gratified  to  their  heart's  content.  In 
connection  with  these  suggestions,  and  the  case  referred  to  above,  just 
now  the  Presbyterial  records  furnish  the  case  of  a  semi-centenary  pas- 
torate, which  closed  in  the  undiminished  affection  of  two,  if  not  three 
generations  of  hearers.  At  the  Spring  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of 
this  year,  the  congregation  of  Bellefonte  sent  a  unanimous  request 
that  the  Presbytery  would  hold  its  regular  Fall  meeting  in  their 
church,  as  precisely  at  that  time  their  venerable  pastor,  Rev.  James 
Linn,  D.  D.,  would,  if  spared,  have  completed  the  fiftieth  year  of  his 
pastorate  among  them  !  Of  course  the  request  was  complied  with, 
and  the  Presbytery  rejoiced  in  commemorating  with  the  people  of 
his  charge,  the  close  of  such  an  honored  and  honorable  pastorate.  At 
this  time  also  order  was  made  ;it  the  request  of  thirty-six  petitioners, 
for  the  organization  of  a  Presbyterian  Church  in   Bald   Eagle  Valley. 

23 


178  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

The  church  was  oiganized  August  30th  following.  And  Abram  D. 
Hawn  and  Joseph  L.  Lower  were  licensed  to  preach  as  probationers 
for  the  gospel  ministry.  By  special  invitation  the  Presbytery  met  at 
Bellefonte,  October  4,  1859,  with  a  view  to  celebrate,  with  some  appro- 
priate services,  the  aniversary  of  the  semi-century  of  the  pastor's  (Rev. 
Dr.  J.  Linn)  connection  with  this  church.  And  as  the  congregation 
had  expressed  a  desire  that  the  pastor  should  give  a  narrative  of  the 
leading  facts  pertaining  to  their  history  during  the  last  fifty  years,  and 
as  they  had  invited  the  Rev.  Dr.  D.  X.  Junkin  to  deliver  a  sermon 
appropriate  to  the  occasion.  Presbytery  appointed  Wednesday  evening, 
October  5th,  as  a  convenient  time  for  these  services ;  at  which  time 
the  Presbytery  assembled,  in  the  presence  of  a  large  and  deeply  in- 
terested and  solemn  audience.  The  following  was  the  order  of  exer- 
cises observed  on  the  occasion  : 

1st.  Anthem  by  the  choir. 

2d.  Prayer  by  Dr.  Woods. 

3d.  Psalmody  by  Dr.  Gibson. 

4th.  Reading  7th  Chapter  of  1st  Samuel  by  Rev.  R.  Hamill,  D.  D. 

5th.  Historical  sketch  of  the  last  fifty  years  of  this  church  by  the 
pastor,  Rev.  James  Linn,  D.  D. 

6th.  Hymn  of  Jubilee,  composed  for  the  occasion  by  Rev.  Dr.  Jun- 
kin, read  by  Dr.  Thompson,  and  sung  by  the  congregation. 

7th.  Sermon  on  1st  Samuel  7:12,  "  Ebenezer,  hitherto  hath  the 
Lord  helped  us,"  by  Dr.  Junkin. 

8th.  Prayer  by  the  Rev.  George  Elliott. 

9th.  509  Hymn,  read  by  Rev.  David  D.  Clarke,  and  sung  by  the 
congregation. 

10th.  Doxology. 

11th.  Benediction  by  Dr.  Linn. 

As  it  was  an  unusual,  so  it  was  a  very  interesting  occasion  to  all 
present.  As  all  most  heartily  congratulated  the  pastor  and  people  on 
the  close  of  a  pastorate  of  fifty  years  so  pleasantly  and  profitably 
maintained,  so  honorable  to  both  pastor  and  people,  the  Presbytery 
Was  especially  gratified  in  such  an  example  set  before  pastors  and  con- 
gregations of  the  possibility  of  a  continued  pastorate  of  fifty  years, 
and  withal  so  pleasantly  maintained  to  the  end.  And  yet  the  end 
was  not  come,  Dr.  Linn  continued  to  be  the  sole  pastor  of  this  con- 
gregation for  several  years  afterwards.  In  this  age  of  changing,  what 
a  monument  is  here  set  up ! 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBVTERV    OF    HUNTINGDON.  179 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  Presbytery  at  its  ses- 
sions in  Bellefonte,  October  8,  1859: 

u  Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  Presbytery  it  is  expedient  to 
ordain  ruling  elders  by  the  imposition  of  hands." 

As  a  matter  of  history  the  following  minute  is  found  on  page  131, 
Vol.  5  of  the  presbyterial  records,  viz  : 

"  A  resolution  to  refuse  to  license  or  ordain  any  man  that  will  not  abstain 
from  all  use  of  tobacco  was  presented,  discussed  and  laid  on  the  table." 

If,  instead  of  the  resolution  noticed  above,  it  had  been  a  recommen- 
dation to  our  young  men,  candidates  for  the  ministry  and  others,  not 
to  contract  the  habit  of  using  tobacco  in  any  form,  none  would  have 
concurred  more  heartily  in  it  than  those  who  have  had  most  experi- 
ence in  the  use  of  the  weed.  But  a  more  sweeping  resolution  could 
not  have  been  offered  in  regard  to  the  habitual  use  of  intoxicating 
drinks.  Therefore,  when  a  man  puts  the  use  of  tobacco  on  the  same 
level  with  the  use  of  intoxicating  drinks  lie  only  hinders  the  reforma- 
tion he  honestly  designs  to  effect. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting,  held  in  Pine  Grove  in  December  of  this^ 
year,  Mr.  S.  M.  Moore,  a  licentiate  of  the  2d  Presbytery  of  Philadel-  Jy- 
phia,  was  received,  and  after  the  usual  examinations  ordained,  and 
installed   pastor  of  Pine  Grove  congregation  for  half  his  time;  and 
arrangements  made  for  his  installation  over  Bald  Eagle  congregation 
for  the  other  half. 

Presbytery  met  at  Hollidaysburg  on  the  10th  of  April,  1860,  at 
which  time  Messrs.  D.  W.  Fisher  and  N.  A.  McDonald,  licentiates  of 
the  Presbytery,  were  ordained  as  Evangelists  with  a  view  to  Foreign  ^^_ 
Missions,  and  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Siam,  India.  Mr.  James 
M.  Nourse,  son  of  the  late  Rev.  James  Nourse,  was  taken  under  the 
care  of  Presbytery  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry;  and  Messrs.  Miles  t 
C.  Wilson,  S.  L.  Gamble  and  W.  Alexander  were  licensed  to  preach 
the  Gospel.  Changes  in  the  Book  of  Discipline,  and  in  the  Boards, 
were  proposed  by  the  General  Assembly,  and  the  subjects  sent  down 
to  the  Presbyteries.  These  matters  were  taken  into  consideration  at 
this  meeting,  and  the  Presbytery  decided  that  the  proposed  changes 
were  useless.  Occasion  was  taken  at  this  time  to  commend  Mr.  J.  M. 
Wilson's  Historical  Almanac  to  the  patronage  of  the  pastors  and 
church  <•>. 

An  adjourned  meeting  of  tin-  Presbytery  was  held  in  June  of  this 
year  at  Tyrone  city.      A  more  than  usual  amount  of  strictly   presbyte- 


180  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY   OF   HUNTINGDON. 

.  rial  business  was  transacted  for  an  adjourned  meeting.  Mr.  Joseph  H. 
Barnard,  being  called  to  Tyrone,  Birmingham  and  Logan's  Valley, 
was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  these  congregations ;  and  Mr.  J. 
A..  Patterson  was  ordained  as  an  Evangelist.  The  Rev.  G.  W.  Van- 
artsdalen  was  received  from  the  2d  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  and 
calls  presented  for  him  from  Shade  Gap  (Little  Aughwick)  and  Upper 
Tuscarora,  over  which  congregations  he  was  installed  on  the  7th  and 
8th  of  August  following,  by  a  committee  of  Presbytery.  Messrs.  F. 
E.  Shearer  and  A.  J.  McGinley  were  taken  under  the  care  of  Presby- 

*-\  tery  as  candidates  for  the  ministry.     Mr.  D.  S.  Banks  was  licensed  to 

jf  preach  the  Gospel. 


notice  of  his  desire  to  resign  the  pastoral  charge  of  West  Kishacoquil- 
las  congregation,  the  pastoral  relation  was  at  this  time  dissolved. 

The  regular  Fall  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  this  year  was  held  at 
Sinking  Creek  church,  commencing  on  the  second  day  of  October. 
The  melancholy  announcement  was  made  of  the  death  of  two  minis- 
terial members  of  the  Presbytery,  and  one  licentiate,  since  the  last 
stated  meeting,  viz:  Rev.  Samuel  M.  Cooper  and  Rev.  George  Gray, 
and  Mr.  Nelson,  a  licentiate.  Mr.  Cooper  was  universally  beloved  as 
far  as  known  for  his  amiable  character,  and  was  an  excellent  preacher, 
though  of  modest  and  retiring  disposition.  Mr.  Gray  was  an  aged 
minister,  probably  an  octogenarian,  much  respected  and  useful  as  a 
pastor,  though  for  some  years  previous  to  his  death  he  had  ceased 
because  of  infirmity,  from  the  active  duties  of  the  ministry.  Mr. 
Nelson  was,  of  course,  a  young  man,  being  only  a  licentiate  of  a  few 
years  standing.  Committees  were  appointed  to  prepare  obituary  no- 
tices of  these  brethren,  to  be  inserted  in  the  book  of  Presbytery 
kept  for  this  purpose. 

At  this  time  the  list  of  members  of  the  Presbytery  was  increased  by 
the  addition  of  two  names.  The  Rev.  J.  B.  Straln  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Carlisle,  was  called  to  the  church  of  Little  Valley ;  and  the  Rev. 
W.  G.  E.  Agnew  was  received  from  the  Methodist  E.  Church. 

The  Rev.  J.  A.  Patterson,  who  had  previously  been  ordained  as  an 
Evangelist,  was  at  this  time  dismissed  to  connect  himself  with  the 
Presbytery  of  Canton,  China.  When  committees  are  appointed  to 
organize  congregations,  or  to  install  pastors,  they  are,  in  many  cases, 
put  to  considerable  expense.  In  view  of  this  fact  the  Presbytery  con- 
sidered it  no  more  than  just  that  the  congregations  thus  served  should 


-£ 


HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  181 

pay  the  expenses  of  the  committee,  and  therefore  passed  the  follow- 
ing resolution : 

"That  it  be  recommended  to  churches  to  pay  the  ordinary  expenses  of 
the  committees  on  installation  services,  and  church  organizations." 

Three  adjourned  meetings  of  the  Presbytery  were  held  this  Fall, 
besides  the  regular  stated  meeting.  One  at  Germantown  during  the 
sessions  of  the  Synod  there,  another  at  Little  Valley,  December  11, 
the  third  at  West  Kishacoquillas,  December  27.  At  the  first  adjourned 
meeting  Dr.  D.  X.  Junkin  gave  notice  of  his  desire  to  resign  the  pas- 
toral charge  of  the  congregation  of  Hollidaysburg ;  and  at  the  second, 
the  relation  was  dissolved.  And  Mr.  R.  B.  Moore,  a  licentiate  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Redstone,  was  received,  a  call  from  West  Kishacoquillas 
congregation  for  his  pastoral  services  was  put  into  his  hands,  and  at 
the  meeting  held  December  27,  he  was  ordained  and  installed. 

The  Rev.  J.  H.  Barnard,  pastor  of  Tyrone,  Birmingham  and 
Logan's  Valley  churches,  was  called  to  be  co-pastor  with  Rev.  Dr. 
Linn  of  Bellefonte,  on  the  11th  of  December;  and  at  the  adjourned 
meeting  held  on  the  27th  following,  his  pastoral  relation,  as  above,  was 
dissolved  by  the  Presbytery,  and  he  allowed  to  accept  the  call  from 
Bellefonte ;  in  which  charge  he  was  installed  on  the  2d  of  January, 
1861. 

The  history  of  the  Presbytery  for  the  year  1861  consists  mainly  in 
the  record  of  the  changes  which  took  place  in  the  several  congrega- 
tions ;  pastoral  relations  dissolved,  and  pastoral  relations  formed : 
with  the  organization  of  some  new  churches.  At  the  stated  meeting 
in  April,  the  pastoral  relation  of  Rev.  John  Elliott  to  the  congrega- 
tions of  Spruce  Creek  and  Sinking  Valley,  was,  at  his  request  dis- 
solved, and  he  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  within  the 
bounds  of  which  he  had  received  a  call.  With  considerable  reluctance 
the  Presbytery  granted  his  request,  owing  to  the  reluctance  of  the 
congregations  to  consent  to  his  removal.  Mr.  Jacob  Andrews,  a  mem- 
ber of  Spring  Creek  Church,  was  taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery 
as  a  candidate  for  the  Gospel  ministry  ;  and  Mr.  William  Burchfield 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel.  At  the  adjourned  meeting  in 
June,  Mr.  S.  L.  Gamble,  a  candidate,  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery 
of  Albany.  Mr.  John  P.  Clarke,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Castle,  was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  and  a  call 
from  the  church  of  Morris  for  one-half  of  his  time  was  put  into  hie 
hands  and  accepted  by  him. 


182  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

The  Rev.  D.  H.  Barron  was  called  to  Hollidaysburg  in  June,  and  at 
the  stated  meeting  of  October  he  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Redstone,  and  installed  pastor  on  the  2d  Tuesday  of  November  by  a 
committee  of  the  Presbytery. 

Mr.  J.  L.  Milligan,  a  member  of  the  Lower  Tuscarora  Church,  was 

*-*""'' taken  under  care  of  Presbytery  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry.     Mr. 

/'  J.  A.  McGinley,  who  had  been  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  as  a  can- 

>*"'  didate  for  the  ministry  for  two  years  past,  was  licensed  to  preach  the 

Gospel  on  the  11th  of  June  of  this  year. 

Calls  were  presented  to  Presbytery  from  the  congregations  of  Sink- 
ing Valley  and  Logan's  Valley,  at  the  stated  meeting  in  October,  for 
the  pastoral  services  of  Rev.  Orr  Lawson  of  the  Presbytery  of  Lex- 
ington. Mr.  Lawson  was  present,  but  owing  to  the  disturbed  state  of 
the  country  had  not  received  a  certificate  of  standing  and  dismission 
from  his  Presbytery,  so  the  calls  could  not,  at  the  time,  be  put  into 

his  hands. 

/O 

Rev.  Wm.  J.  Gibson  gave  notice  of  his  desire  to  resign  the  charge  of 

■^  Lick  Run  Church  with  a  view  to  accept  a  chaplaincy  in  the  army. 
The  congregation  having  given  their  consent,  the  pastoral  relation  was 
dissolved  at  an  adjourned  meeting  held  during  the  sessions  of  the 
Synod  of  Philadelphia  at  Easton,  the  latter  part  of  October  of  this 
year.  Mr.  John  Porter,  of  Alexandria,  who  had  been  treasurer  of 
the  itinerant  fund  of  Presbytery  since  the  organization  of  that  mis- 
sion, at  this  time  resigned,  and  Hon.  John  Scott,  of  Huntingdon,  was 
appointed  in  his  stead.     It  was  the  design  of  Presbytery  to  continue 

'  V  that  mission,  of  which  Rev.  Samuel  Lawrence  was  the  efficient  mis- 
sionary for  some  time  past.  Mr.  W.  A.  Hooper,  a  licentiate,  was 
received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  from  the  Presbytery  of  Miami. 
and  calls  from  the  churches  of  Birmingham  and  Tyrone  were  put 
into  his  hands,  and  being  accepted  ;  he,  together  with  Mr.  John  P. 
Clarke,  after  satisfactory  examinations,  were  ordained  to  the  full 
work  of  the  Gospel  ministry. 

On  the  report  of  the  committee  on  the  minutes  of  the  General 
Assembly,  the  attention  of  the  Presbytery,  among  other  items  of  busi- 
ness, was  directed  to  the  recommendation  on  page  305  of  the  minutes  : 
"That  Presbyteries  exercise  great  caution  in  recommending  candidates 
for  the  high  and  holy  office  of  the  ministry  to  the  care  of  the  Board 
of  Education."  No  doubt  there  was  seen  to  be  much  occasion  for 
this  recommendation  at  the  time;  and  not  less  now,  there  seeming  t<> 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  183 

be  a  great  relaxation  of  strictness  in  the  examination  of  candidates 
for  the  ministry,  and  in  view  of  their  application  to  the  Board  for  as- 
sistance.  In  an  experience  of  many  years  there  is  no  recollection  of 
any  applicant  but  one,  being  refused  as  a  proper  person  to  be  encour- 
aged to  go  forward  in  preparing  for  the  ministry,  as  a  beneficiary  of 
the  Board.  In  some  cases  it  has  appeared  afterwards,  that  they  ought 
not  to  have  been  encouraged ;  and  in  others,  that  the  recommenda- 
tion of  them  for  aid  to  the  Board,  was  of  doubtful  necessity.  But 
perhaps  this  was  the  safest  side  on  which  to  err.  The  next  year 
following  the  recommendation  of  the  Assembly  and  the  action  of  the 
Presbytery  on  the  subject,  the  names  of  J.  H.  Wilson,  J.  J.  Kerr, 
Daniel  Bosvvorth  and  W.  0.  Wilson  were  stricken  from  the  list  of 
candidates.  There  is  no  record  of  the  reasons  inducing  this  action, 
but  it  is  presumed  to  have  been  in  accordance  with  their  own  request, 
as  a  resolution  was  immediately  passed  expressing  the  mind  of  Pres- 
bytery that  they  were  in  honor  bound  to  return  the  moneys  they  had 
received  from  the  Board  of  Education  as  beneficiaries.  The  Board 
does  not  require  any  pledge  on  the  part  of  beneficiaries,  in  case  they 
afterwards  change  their  purpose  to  enter  the  ministry,  that  they  will 
return  the  sums  they  have  received.  This  ought  to  make  the  Presby- 
teries more  cautious  in  recommending  candidates  to  the  Board  for  aid. 
This  year  (1862)  is  only  remarkable  in  the  history  of  the  Presbytery 
for  the  number  of  cases  brought  before  Presbytery,  by  complaint  or 
appeal,  or  petition,  arising  out  of  temporary  disagreements  in  several 
congregations. 

The  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  has  always  been  characterized  by 
the  harmony  existing  among  its  members,  and  the  peaceableness  of  its 
congregations.  But  among  imperfect  men  and  ministers  on  earth,  the 
unbroken  harmony  of  heaven  must  not  be  expected.  There  were  diffi- 
culties this  year  in  the  congregation  of  Middle  Tuscarora  between  the 
pastor  and  the  people,  which  issued  afterwards  in  a  dissolution  of  the 
pastoral  relation;  though  the  Presbytery  condemned  the  irregulai 
means  employed  to  effect  this  object,  and  only  dissolved  the  pastoral 
relation  at  the  request  of  the  pastor. 

A  complaint  against  an  action  of  the  Session  of  Lower  Tuscarora 
congregation,  was  made  by  Mr.  James  McLaughlin,  an  elder  of  said 
congregation,  which  complaint  was  dismissed  by  Presbytery  on  ac- 
count of  irregularity,  and  appeal  from  the  action  of  Presbytery  taken 
to  Synod,  but  it  is  believed  it  was  never  prosecuted  to  an  issue.  Th< 
matter  of  complaint  not  being  recorded,  is  not  now  remembered. 


184  HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESBYTERY   OF    HUNTINGDON. 

A  letter  of  complaint  or  reference  from  certain  members  of  the  con- 
gregation of  Upper  Tuscarora,  which  was  then  in  connection  with 
Shade  Gap  in  the  support  of  a  pastor,  was  brought  before  Presbytery, 
appearing  to  be  a  difference  between  the  Session  and  Trustees  in  rela- 
tion to  certain  pecuniary  matters,  which  was  only  temporary,  and  was 
quietly  settled  by  the  Presbytery,  or  by  the  parties  in  the  presence  of 
the  Presbytery. 

Little  Valley  congregation  was   also   much  distracted  during   the 
latter  part  of  this  year.     The  causes  of  division  had  relation  to  poli- 
tics, or  springing  of  party  prejudices.     The   pastor,  the   Rev.  J.  B. 
Strain,    was   an   original   abolitionist.      It   was   in   the   time   of    the 
Southern  rebellion.    Though  the  pastor  had  been  ever  so  conservative 
in  the  expression  of  his  views,  both  parties  were  exceedingly  sensitive 
upon  the  subjects  connected  with  the  war,  and  he  could  scarcely  have 
avoided  giving  offence,  had  he  expressed  himself  at  all.     Then,  even 
praying  for  the  Government  was  in  some  places  the  occasion  of  offence. 
It  is  not  believed  that  the  pastor  was  eminently  prudent  in  the  ex- 
pression of  his  views,  but  the  Presbytery  adopted  the  report  of  a 
committee,  which  set  forth  "  That  some  of  the  members  of  the  con- 
gregation have  been  too  captious  and  negligent  of  duty  in  absenting 
themselves  from  the  worship  of  God's  House,  and  their  duties  as  of- 
ficers in  the  Church  of  Christ,  as  well  as  in  withdrawing  their  support, 
upon  insufficient  grounds,  thus  crippling  the  congregation  and  mak- 
ing it  the  plea  for  the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation,  without  so 
far  as  Presbytery  can  learn,  any  sufficient   grounds."     The  prayer, 
therefore,  for  the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation  was  not  granted. 
^/T)        Mr.  William  Alexander,  a  licentiate  of  this  Presbytery,  was  trans- 
ferred at  the  Spring  meeting  in  April  to  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Northumberland.     At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  Octo- 
ber, 1861,   calls   were   presented   from   Sinking  Valley   and   Logan's 
Valley  for  the  Rev.  Orr  Lawson  of  Lexington  Presbytery,  but,  as  be- 
fore stated,  because  of  the  civil  war  he  could  not  obtain  a  dismission 
to  connect  with  this  Presbytery.      In  view  of  this  state  of  things. 
Presbytery  memorialized  the  General  Assembly  to  transfer  Mr.  Lawson 
to  this  Presbytery.     It  was  so  ordered,  and  at  the  adjourned  meeting 
in  June,  1862,  the  calls  were  put  into  his  hands,  accepted  by  him,  and 
lie  was  installed  over  the  above  named  congregations. 
•^       At  the  April  meeting  of  this  year,  Mr.  D.  S.  Banks  was  appointed 
^  itinerant  missionary  to  Broad  Top,  Yellow  Creek,  and  Martinsburg. 
Mr.  Robert  A.  Clarke  was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  as  ;i 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  185 

candidate  for  the  ministry,  also  Mr.  Joseph  Kelley  at  the  adjourned 
meeting  in  June.  At  which  time  also  Mr.  J.  Milmgan  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  Gospel. 

At  a  special  meeting  called  for  the  11th  day  of  August,  1862,  Mr.  J. 
A.  McGinlev  made  application  to  be  ordained  as  an  Evangelist,  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  being  a  Chaplain  in  the  Northern  army  he  could 
move  authoritatively  and  usefully  discharge  the  duties  of  the  posi- 
tion. After  an  examination  on  all  the  parts  of  trial  for  ordination 
required  by  the  book,  his  request  was  granted,  and  he  was  ordained 
to  the  full  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry. 

At  the  opening  of  the  stated  meeting  in  October,  the  death  of  Rev. 
James  S.  Woods,  L\  D.,  of  Lewistown  was  announced.  Dr.  Woods 
died  on  the  29th  of  June,  1862. 

The  Eev.  W.  G.  E.  Agnew  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Nor- 
thumberland, he  having  received  a  call  from  two  congregations  within 
the  bounds  of  that  Presbytery. 

The  Rev.  0.  0.  McClean  was  received  by  certificate  from  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Cedar,  Iowa,  and  a  call  from  the  congregation  of  Lewistown 
put  into  his  hands,  accepted,  and  a  committee  appointed  to  install 
him.  Mr.  Oscar  A.  Hills,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Craw- 
fordsville,  Indiana,  was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  called 
to  the  congregation  of  Spruce  Creek,  and  was  ordained  and  installed 
pastor  of  said  Church  at  an  adjourned  meeting  held  at  Spruce  Creek, 
November  25,  1862. 

Rev.  J.  A.  Patterson,  who  had  been  ordained  as  an  Evangelist  in  _jl. 
view  of  going  on  a  foreign  mission,  accepted  a  call  from  the  congre- 
gation of  Lick   Run,  in  which  congregation  he  was  installed  in   due 
time. 

In  the  course  of  the  free  conversation  on  the  subject  of  religion,  in- 
quiries were  made  with  regard  to  the  contributions  of  the  several 
churches  to  the  fund  for  the  support  of  aged  and  infirm  ministers, 
and  the  widows  and  orphans  of  deceased  ministers.  Whereupon 
Judge  Samuel  Linn  offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was  unani- 
mously adopted,  viz  : 

"Resolved,  That  Presbytery  heartily  approve  of  the  establishment  under 
the  direction  ot  the  General  Assembly  of  a  permanent  fu:id  for  the  support 
of  disabled  ministers,  their  widows  and  children ;  and  that  although  the 
present  system  of  annual  contributions  may  be  adequate  to  supply  the  pre- 
sent need,  yet  they  deem  it  insufficient  to  accomplish  fully  the  ultimate 
purpose  of  this  important  branch  of  christian  benevolence." 


186  HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

^-rs      Dr.  D.  X.  Junkin,  at  his  request,  was  now  dismissed  to  the  2d  Pres- 
^-bytery  of  New  York. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting,  held  at  Spruce  Creek  Church,  November 

)    25,  Rev.  S.  M.  Moore  was  permitted  to  resign  the  pastoral  charge  of 

-^  Bald  Eagle  Church,  over  which  he  had  been  installed  for  half  his  time, 

and  to  give  to  Pine  Grove  Church,  the  other  part  of  his  charge,  the 

whole  of  his  time  for  one  year. 

The  Rev.  Wm.  B.  McKee  of  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Paul  requested  to 
be  received  as  a  member  of  Presbytery,  but  for  some  reason  not  hav- 
ing his  dismissal  to  present,  he  was  examined,  and  received  condition- 
ally ;  and  on  presentation  of  his  dismissal  to  the  stated  clerk,  his 
membership  to  be  considered  full.  At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the 
Presbytery,  held  at  the  church  of  Fruit  Hill,  Clearfield  county,  on  the 
21st  of  January,  1863,  Mr.  William  Burchfield,  a  licentiate,  was  ex- 
amined in  all  the  usual  parts  of  trial  to  the  satisfaction  of  Presbytery, 
and  was  accordingly  ordained  and  installed  pastor.  The  Rev.  S.  T. 
Lowrie  gave  notice  of  his  intention  to  apply  at  the  next  stated  meet- 
ing of  the  Presbytery  for  the  dissolution  of  his  pastoral  relation  to 
Alexandria  congregation.  Mr.  Lowrie's  pastoral  relation  was  accord- 
ingly dissolved  at  the  stated  meeting  in  April  following. 

The  troubles  still  continuing  in  Little  Valley  congregation,  the 
Presbytery  appointed  a  committee  to  visit  that  church  and  inquire 
into  its  affairs,  and  endeavor  to  adjust  the  same  as  the  interests  of  re- 
ligion may  seem  to  require.  In  view  of  this  action,  the  commissioners 
from  the  congregation  had  leave  to  withdraw  a  petition  presented  at  a 
previous  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  for  a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral 
relation.  Mr.  Strain  at  this  time  requested  the  Presbytery  to  dissolve 
his  pastoral  relation  to  the  church,  which  was  granted.  Two  candi- 
dates for  the  ministry  were  taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  viz : 
R.  M.  Campbell  and  Edmund  P.  Foresman. 

The  Rev.  A.  B.  Clarke,  pastor  of  the  Altoona  Church,  having  at  a 
previous  meeting  given  notice  of  his  purpose'  to  [resign  his  charge, 
on  account  of  continued  ill  health,  his  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved 
April  15,  1863. 

There  was  a  case  before  the  Presbytery  at  this  time  to  be  decided. 
The  appeal  of  Isabella  C.  Robinson  from  a  decision  of  the  Session  of 
Mifflintown  and  Lost  Creek.  The  nature  of  the  case  cannot  be  gath- 
ered from  the  minutes,  but  the  vote  on  the  issuing  of  the  case  is 
recorded.  The  vote,  when  taken,  stood  thus :  To  confirm  (the  decis- 
ion of  Session)  in  part,  26;  to  confirm  absolutely,  17;  to  reverse,  1 ;  to 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  1ST 

reverse  in  part,  1.  Then  a  committee  was  appointed  to  bring  in  a 
minute  expressive  of  the  views  of  Presbytery  in  the  whole  case. 
What  is  most  remarkable  in  the  report  of  the  committee  in  this  case 
is,  (and  for  this  reason  only  the  case  is  noticed  in  this  history,)  that  no 
man  can  gather  from  it  what  were  really  the  merits  of  the  case,  or 
what  was  the  decision  of  the  Presbytery  after  all.  The  presumption 
is,  that  the  case  being  fresh  in  the  minds  of  the  Presbytery  at  the 
time,  in  recording  the  action  on  the  case,  it  was  forgotten  that  these 
minutes  were  to  be  read  in  the  future,  and  to  be  reviewed  by  the 
Superior  Court.  Had  this  case  been  appealed  to  the  Synod,  from  all 
that  appears  on  the  minutes,  the  Synod  would  have  had  no  data  on 
which  to  proceed,  and  must  have  depended  wholly  on  the  simple  state- 
ments of  the  members  of  the  Presbytery.  At  all  events,  the  minute 
prepared  by  the  committee  in  this  case,  and  the  vote  of  the  members 
as  recorded,  seem  to  be  at  variance ;  it  sustains  nothing,  and  condemns 
nothing.  Like  many  other  reports  made  in  similar  cases,  the  latter 
part  is  made  to  neutralize  the  former  part. 

During  this  meeting  the  Presbytery  recommended  the  Ashmun 
Institute  to  the  confidence  of  the  churches,  and  enjoined  that,  on  a 
day  named,  collections  should  be  taken  in  its  behalf.  The  revised 
Book  of  Discipline  proposed  by  the  General  Assembly,  and  sent  down 
to  the  Presbyteries  for  their  opinion,  was  taken  under  consideration 
and  the  following  resolution  adopted  unanimously  : 

"  Resolved,  That  although  the  Book  is  not  what  all  the  members  would 
desire,  yet  upon  the  whole,  Presbytery  approve  and  recommend  its  adoption 
by  the  General  Assembly." 

Mr.  D.  S.  Banks,  Itinerant  Presbyterial  Missionary,  made  a  report  of 
his  labors  in  Broad  Top  region,  which  was  accepted  and  approved,  and 
he  was  appointed  to  that  service  for  the  next  six  months.  A  call  by 
a  majority  of  the  congregation  of  Altoona  was  presented  for  the  pas- 
toral services  of  Mr.  Banks  ;  but  because  it  was  irregular,  the  Presby- 
tery refused  to  put  it  into  his  hands. 

The  Rev.  A.  B.  Clarke,  the  former  pastor  of  the  church,  was  con- 
fined to  his  house  by  the  disease  of  which  he  not  long  afterwards  died. 
A  committee  of  Presbytery  was  appointed  to  visit  him,  and  express 
the  sympathy  of  the  Presbytery  with  him  in  his  affliction.  This 
committee  consisted  of  Messrs.  McClean,  Hamill  and  Lawrence.  A 
committee  was  appointed  to  visit  Broad  Top  region,  and  gather  such 
facts  as  may  justify  Presbytery,  possibly,  in  organizing  a  congregation 
and  erecting  a  church  there. 


s 


188  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  HUNTINGDON. 

Mr.  J.  D.  Beale,  having  passed  through  all  his  trials  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  Presbytery,  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting,  held  June  16,  1863,  the  Eev.  A.  H.  Hal- 
i,owav  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  West  Lexington ;  and  he 
continued  to  labor  for  a  few  years  in  the^congregation  of  Beulah, 
Clearfield  county,  and  is  now  pastor  of  the  church  of  Danville,  New 
Jersey. 

Dr.  D.  D.  Clarke,  chairman  of  a  committee  appointed  to  prepare  an 
obituary  of  Rev.  J.  S.  Woods,  D.  D.,  re])orted  at  this  meeting,  and  the 
paper  was  ordered  to  be  inserted  in  the  book  kept  for  this  purpose. 
The  obituary  was  never  inserted,  the  probable  reason  for  the  omission 
being  the  fact  that  the  book  was  mislaid,  and  lost  for  a  number  of 
years. 

Mr.  D.  S.  Banks  was  again  called  by  a  majority  of  the  congregation 
of  Altoona.  The  call  was  found  to  be  in  order,  and  put  into  Mr. 
Banks'  hands,  but  declined  by  him. 

Mr.  James  Stewart  was  taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  as  a 
candidate  for  the  ministry,  and  recommended  for  aid  to  the  Board  of 
Education.  And  Rev.  James  C.  Mahon  was  received  from  the  Presby- 
tery of  Bloomington.  Mr.  Joseph  Kelly,  a  candidate  under  the  care 
of  Presbytery,  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel.  The  committee  to 
visit  Saxton  and  the  Broad  Top  region,  reported,  recommending  that 
a  congregation  be  organized  at  Saxton,  and  a  church  built  as  soon  as 
practicable.  And  the  commitee  to  visit  the  church  of  Little  Valley, 
in  view  of  the  disturbances  in  that  church,  reported  favorably  as  to 
the  future  peace  and  harmony  of  the  church. 

The  stated  meeting  in  the  Fall  of  1863  was  held  at  Pine  Grove,  Oc- 
tober 6.  After  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery  it  was  announced 
that  since  the  last  meeting  the  Rev.  A.  B.  Clarke  of  Altoona,  had 
departed  this  life.  The  following  minute,  prepared  by  Dr.  Hamill, 
was  adopted  unanimously,  as  expressive  of  the  views  of  Presbytery  on 
the  death  of  Mr.  Clarke  : 

"  The  Presbytery  record,  with  sadness,  their  bereavement  in  the  loss,  by 
death,  of  the  Rev.  A.  B.  Clarke.  Commingling  with  us,  he  was  a  brother 
lovely  and  beloved  in  the  Lord.  Separated  from  us  by  the  will  of  God,  his 
memory  is  and  shall  be  fragrant.  Thankful  for  his  life,  his  labors,  and  his 
influence  among  us,  we  yield  him  submissively  to  the  Head  of  the  Church, 
who  has  called  him  to  a  higher  sphere.  May  we  be  admonished  by  his 
early  death  of  the  truth  that  '  the  night  cometh.'  " 

Resolved,  That  the  Rev.  D.  D.  Clarke  be  appointed  to  prepare  an 
obituary  of  Mr.  Clarke,  to  be  inserted  in  the  book  kept  for  that  purpose." 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  189 

This,  like  the  former,  though  prepared,  was  not  inserted  in  the 
book,  and  doubtless  for  the  same  reasons. 

The  call  for  Mr.  Banks  from  the  Church  of  Altoona  was  again  re- 
newed, but  because  of  a  respectable  minority  opposing,  the  Presbytery 
deemed  it  inexpedient  to  put  the  call  into  Mr.  Banks'  hands.  It  is 
due  to  Mr.  Banks  to  record  the  fact,  that  it  was  not  owing  to  any 
personal  dissatisfaction  with  Mr.  B.  or  his  preaching,  but  wholly  to 
the  imprudence  of  his  friends  in  urging  the  call  in  the  first  instance 
before  the  actual  dissolution  of  Mr.  Clarke's  pastoral  relation  to  the 
congregation,  and  before  his  death,  which  was  imminent  at  any  time. 
Over  this  Mr.  Banks  is  believed  not  to  have  had  any  control,  but  suf- 
fered in  consequence  of  the  indecent  haste  of  his  friends.  Under 
other  circumstances  the  whole  congregation  would  have  been  glad  to 
have  united  in  the  call  to  so  promising  a  young  minister. 

After  this,  for  some  time,  Mr.  Banks  still  continued  in  the  mission- 
ary field  of  Broad  Top,  at  the  earnest  request  of  the  people  in  that  -_- 
region.  The  Rev.  S.  M.  Moore  at  this  time  was  called  to  the  congre- 
gation of  Alexandria,  and  at  the  adjourned  meeting  following  in 
November,  his  pastoral  relation  to  Pine  Grove  was  dissolved,  and  he 
transferred  to  Alexandria.  At  the  same  meeting  in  November,  Mr. 
Banks  was  ordained  as  an  Evangelist,  the  necessities  of  his  missionary 
field  requiring  an  ordained  minister.  Rev.  William  B.  McKee  was 
called  to  the  church  of  Bald  Eagle,  the  call  retained  by  him  for  con- 
sideration till  the  stated  meeting  in  the  Spring,  when  he  announced 
its  acceptance,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  for  his  installation. 

The  following  overture  was  presented  by  the  Rev.  D.  H.  Barron, 
viz : 

"  Is  it  Presbyterial.for  a  session  to  hold  stated  meetings,  and  is  it  the 
duty  of  all  the  members  of  that  session  to  attend  every  meeting,  if  not  pro- 
videntially hindered?" 

It  was  answered  in  the  affirmative.  This  overture  was  probably 
suggested  by  a  reference  from  the  session  of  Lower  Tuscarora  Church 
of  the  case  of  two  elders,  who  declined  attending  the  monthly  stated 
meetings  of  the  session,  as  recently  practised  in  that  congregation. 
The  following  paper  was  offered  by  Dr.  Gibson,  and  made  the  order  of 
the  day  for  consideration  after  public  worship  in  the  evening  of  the 
day  on  which  it  was  offered,  and  then  adopted,  viz : 

"Whereas,  The  Board  of  Publication  of  our  church  having  been  largely 
engaged  in  distributing  religious  books  and  tracts  gratuitously  among  the 
soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  Union  army  and  navy,  and  the  funds  for  this 


190  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

purpose  in  the  hands  of  the  Board  being  now  exhausted :  Therefore,  the 
Presbytery  earnestly  recommend  to  all  the  congregations  within  our 
bounds,  and  especially  the  wealthy  in  the  congregations,  to  contribute  to 
this  fund  and  thus  enable  the  Board  to  continue  in  this  good  work,  and  even 
if  possible  to  enlarge  their  operations." 

In  connection  with  the  passing  of  this  paper,  inquiry  was  made  as 
to  contributions  to  the  various  Boards  of  the  Church,  when,  on  mo- 
tion, the  following  paper  was  unanimously  adopted,  viz  : 

"  The  subject  of  benevolence  being  under  consideration,  and  upon  inquiry 
it  appearing  that  a  number  of  churches  have  not  yet  adopted  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Assembly  to  take  up  annual  contributions  for  all  the 
Boards  of  the  Church  ;  it  was 

Resolved,  That  all  the  ministers  be  directed  to  bring  this  matter  before 
their  respective  charges,  and  that  the  vacant  churches  not  represented  in 
this  meeting  be  addressed  by  letter,  calling  their  urgent  attention  to  the 
subject,  to  report  at  the  next  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery." 

Near  the  closing  of  the  session  of  the  Presbytery  held  at  Pine 
Grove,  October  8,  1863,  the  following  paper  was  adopted  on  the  state 
of  the  country  : 

"Whereas,  This  Presbytery  has  never  expressed  in  any  formal  manner 
its  attachment  to  the  Union,  and  its  sympathy  with  the  country  in  the  con- 
flict of  loyalty  with  an  uncaused  and  wicked  rebellion,  supposing  that  the 
action  of  our  General  Assembly— the  highest  court  of  our  church — was 
sufficient  evidence  of  our  loyalty,  as  for  all  this  action  our  commissioners 
have  always  voted.  But  least  hereafter  it  should  be  supposed  from  the 
absence  of  any  Presbyterial  action  on  this  subject,  that  we  as  a  Presbytery 
were  indifferent  to  the  cause  of  the  country,  and  of  doubtful  loyalty,  there- 
fore, we  deem  it  proper  to  adopt  the  following  resolutions : 

1st.  Resolved,  That  we  are  unalterably  attached  to  the  Union,  and  instead 
of  having  sympathy  with  those  in  rebellion  against  the  Government,  we 
unhesitantly  condemn  and  denounce  the  rebellion  as  wicked  and  uncaused. 

2d.  Resolved,  That  we  approve  of  the  Government  putting  down  the 
rebellion. 

3d.  Resolved,  That  we  nevertheless  will  hail  the  return  of  peace  on  just 
and  honorable  terms,  securing  the  unity  of  all  the  States,  and  promising 
permanent  security  against  a  similar  rebellion  in  all  time  to  come." 

Mr.  Andrew  Parker,  a  member  of  the  church  of  Mifflintown,  was 
taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry, 
and  recommended  to  the  Board  of  Education  for  aid. 

The  Presbytery  held  its  Spring  sessions  in  Bellefonte.  commencing 
April  12,  1864. 

The  history  of  the  Presbytery  during  this  year,  is  only  a  record  of 
the  several   changes  which    occurred   in  pastoral   relations,  and  the 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY'    OF    HUNTINGDON.  191 

addition  of  new  names  to  the  roll  of  Presbytery,  with  other  ordinary 
business.  Mr.  William  E.  Ijams  was  received  under  the  care  of  Pres- 
bytery as  a  candidate  for  the  Gospel  ministry,  after  the  usual  exami- 
nations. He  was  introduced  to  the  Presbytery  by  Rev.  0.  0.  McClean, 
under  whose  superintendence  he  had  studied  theology  heretofore. 
His  literary  and  scientific  education  had  been  received  with  a  view  to 
another  profession.  At  the  adjourned  meeting  in  June  following,  he 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel ;  also  at  the  same  time  Mr.  J.  E. 
Kearns  was  licensed. 

The  Rev.  S.  T.  Lowrie  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Alle- 
ghany city.  The  Rev.  R.  M.  Wallace  was  received  from  the  Presby- 
tery of  Redstone,  a  call  put  into  his  hands  from  the  Church  of 
Altoona,  over  which  he  was  installed  on  the  6th  of  May  following. 

Mr.  Washington  0.  Wright,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Castle,  was  after  examination  taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery. 
Mr.  W.  having  been  called  to  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregations 
of  Philipsburg  and  Morris,  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the 
first  named  Church  on  the  13th  of  June,  and  on  the  next  day  of  the 
Church  of  Morris  by  a  committee  of  Presbytery.  ^^^ 

The  death  of  the  Rev.  G.  W.  Thompson,  D.  D.,  late  pastor  of  Lower  J.- 
Tuscarora  church,  being  announced,  a  committee  consisting  of  Rev.  0. 
0.  McClean,  Rev.  J.  W.  White  and  Rev.  D.  Sterrett  were  appointed 
to  prepare  an  obituary  of  Dr.  Thompson  for  the  Book  of  Presbytery, 
kept  for  this  purpose ;  but  for  the  present  the  following  minute  was 
made  in  reference  to  this  sad  event. 

"  Inasmuch  as  it  has  pleased  God,  in  the  exercise  of  his  infinite  wisdom 
and  goodness,  to  remove  from  earth,  since  the  last  meeting  of  Presbytery, 
the  Rev.  G.  W.  Thompson,  D.  D.,  who  was  yet  in  the  strength  of  his  man- 
hood, and  the  midst  of  his  usefulnees  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  we,  as  a  Presbytery,  mourn  his  death  as  the  loss  of  an  in- 
strument owned  of  God  in  turning  many  to  righteousness — an  able  and 
faithful  preacher  of  the  word — an  honored  member  of  our  Presbytery,  and 
a  brother  beloved.  We  recognize  the  hand  of  God  in  this  unexpected 
event,  and  bow  in  humble  submission  to  his  will.  While  we  sorrow  that  we 
shall  see  his  face  no  more,  we  sorrow  not  as  those  that  have  no  hope.  We 
also  feel  stimulated  by  this  solemn  event  to  be  more  zealous  and  active  in 
the  Master's  service,  that  we  may  finish  our  course  with  joy,  and  be  ever 
ready  to  exchange  the  labors  and  trials  of  earth  for  the  rest  and  enjoy- 
ment of  Heaven." 

The  Rev.  John  Moore,  pastor  of  the  church  of  Williamsburg,  signi- 
fied his  purpose  to  resign  the  charge  ;  and  the  congregation  being  noti- 


192  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OP    HUNTINGDON. 

fied  and  consenting,  at  the  adjourned  meeting  in  June  his  relation 
was  dissolved,  and,  at  his  request,  he  was  dismissed  to  the  Contra! 
Presbytery  of  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Moore,  having  made  arrangements 
to  take  charge  of  a  female  seminary  in  Mantua  Village,  West  Phila- 
delphia, the  following  paper  offered  by  Dr.  Gibson  was  adopted  : 

"  Resolved,  That  Presbytery  have  confidence  in  the  ability  of  the  Rev. 
John  Moore  to  teach  and  conduct  such  a  school  as  that  of  which  he  is 
about  to  take  charge,  and  commend  his  female  seminary  to  the  patronage 
of  those  who  have  daughters  to  educate." 

The  Rev.  Wm.  A.  Hooper's  pastoral  relation  to  the  churches  of  Bir- 
mingham and  Tyrone  city,  was  also  at  this  time  dissolved.  As  the 
vacant  churches  of  the  Presbytery  had  got  into  the  habit  of  asking 
leave  to  supply  themselves  with  preaching,  the  Presbytery  adopted 
the  following  resolution  on  the  subject : 

11  Resolved,  That  the  custom  of  churches  asking  leave  to  supply  them- 
selves has  been  abused ;  the  original  design  of  the  privilege  being  to  enable 
the  churches  to  obtain  pastors,  or  with  the  permission  of  Presbytery,  stated 
supplies  ;  and  that  we  cannot  regard  it  as  according  to  Presbyterian  order 
that  churches  should  make  their  own  arrangements  independent  of  Presby- 
teries ;  and  therefore  this  Presbytery  would  earnestly  enjoin  upon  the 
churches  under  our  care  to  return  to  the  old  paths." 

It  is  not  known  that  this  resolution  produced  any  perceptible  effect. 
The  churches  continued  to  apply  for  leave,  and  the  Presbytery  was 
hardly  ever  known  to  refuse  the  privilege  to  this  day.  The  ReV.  Dr. 
Knox  being  present  as  the  representative  of  the  Board  of  Domestic 
Missions,  and  having  addressed  the  Presbytery  on  the  subject,  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions  were  adopted,  viz  : 

"  Resolved,  That  we  hereby  express  anew  our  profound  sense  of  the  im- 
portance and  obligation  of  this  great  scheme  of  benificence,  as  identified 
not  only  with  the  progress  and  influence  of  our  own  church,  but  also  with 
the  righteousnesss  and  glory  of  our  land ;  believing  that  the  Gospel  is  not 
only  the  salvation  of  the  soul,  but  also  the  strength  of  the  State. 

Resolved,  That  we  cordially  approve  of  the  plan  of  extended  operations 
of  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions  as  clearly  called  for  in  the  Providence 
of  God,  by  the  extraordinary  circumstances  of  the  times. 

Resolved,  That  we  will  do  what  in  us  lies  to  increase  our  contributions  to 
this  cause  for  the.  coming  year." 

The  Presbytery,  at  this  time,  re-affirmed  the  resolutious  adopted 
October  8,  1863,  in  relation  to  the  state  of  the  country. 

At  the  close  of  this  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  the  venerable 
Dr.  James  Linn,  now  in  the  81st  year  of  his  age,  after  a  few  solemn 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  193 

and  affecting  words,  stated  that,  in  all  probability,  he  had  met  with 
the  Presbytery  for  the  last  time,  and  closed  the  sessions  with  prayer. 
It  proved  to  be  the  last  time,  though  Dr.  Linn  lived  till  the  begin- 
ning  of  the  year  1868,  but  through  infirmities  was  unable  to  go  from 
home  to  attend  the  after  meetings  of  the  Presbytery.  Indeed  it  was 
at  his  special  request  that  this  meeting  was  held  in  Bellefonte,  that  he 
might  be  present.  In  addition  to  the  items  of  business  already 
noticed,  as  transacted  at  the  adjourned  meeting  of  this  year,  held  in 
June  at  Philipsburg,  a  call  was  presented  to  Presbytery  for  the  Rev.  i 
N.  G.  White  of  Carlisle  Presbytery,  but  having  been  made  out  before 
Mr.  Moore's  pastoral  relation  to  that  church  was  dissolved,  the  call 
was  returned  to  the  congregation,  with  directions  to  hold  another 
meeting  of  the  congregation  in  accordance  with  the  rules. 

Mr.  James  C.  Boal,  a  member  of  Spring  Creek  church,  was  at  this 
time  taken  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery,  as  a  candidate,  and 
recommended  to  the  Board  for  aid. 

The  Rev.  G.  W.  Vaxartsdalen  was  permitted  to  resign  the  charge 
of  U:>per  Tuscarora  congregation.  Mr.  J.  D.  Beai.k.  a  licentiate  of 
the  Pr  'sbytery,  was  called  to  Middle  Tuscarora,  and  at  an  adjourned 
meeting,  held  on  the  11th  of  August  at  East  Waterford,  in  the  bounds 
of  the  Middle  Tuscarora  congregation,  he  was  ordained  and  installed. 

The  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  October,  1864,  was  held  in 
the  church  of  Shirleysburg.  The  business  of  Presbytery  was  mostly 
of  the  ordinary  routine.  Mr.  W.  B.  Noble,  a  member  of  the  church  of 
Yellow  Creek,  after  due  examination,  was  taken  under  care  of  Pres- 
bytery as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry :  and  the  Rev.  W.  A.  Fleming 
was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Peoria,  and  his  name  entered  on 
the  roll  of  members.  The  Rev.  John  M.  Galloway,  by  letter,  re-^fc- 
quested  leave  to  resign  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  church  of  Clearfield 
town  on  account  of  ill  health.  The  congregation  concurring  in  the 
request,  it  was  granted.  The  Rev.  N.  G.  White  presented  a  certificate  __£- 
of  dismission  from  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  and  was  enrolled  as  a 
member  of  this  Presbytery.  The. call  from  Williamsburg  having  been 
renewed  in  an  orderly  way,  was  put  into  his  hands,  accepted,  and  a 
committee  appointed  to  install  him  on  the  seventh  of  November 
following. 

The  following  standing  rail's  in  relation  to  students  for  the  ministry, 
were  adopted  : 

"1st.   It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  candidate  to  report  to  Presbytery  an- 
•j.". 


194  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

nually,  in  person,  for  the  purpose  of  undergoing  such  examination  a*  the 
Presbytery  may  deem  expedient. 

2d.  When  any  candidate  may  providentially  he  unable  to  appear  before 
Presbytery,  according  to  the  foregoing  rule,  he  shall,  in  lieu  of  personal  at- 
tendance, transmit  to  the  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Education  a 
written  communication,  to  satisfy  Presbytery  of  his  industry,  punctuality, 
and  progress  as  a  student,  and  his  good  standing  as  a  christian. 

3d.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  chairman  of  the  Commtitee  on  Education 
to  inform  each  candidate  of  the  existence  and  nature  of  these  rules. 

4th.  No  candidate  shall  afterwards  be  recommended  to  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation for  aid,  who,  after  being  informed  of  these  rules,  shall  fail  to  conform 
to  them." 

At  this  time  the  Presbytery,  recognizing  how  unseemly  it  was  to 
have  a  number  of  ministers  unemployed,  and  yet  urging  upon  parents 
to  consecrate  their  sons,  and  the  youth  to  consecrate  themselves  to 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  in  view  of  wants  of  the  world,  appointed 
the  "  Rev.  Messrs.  Lowrie,  McClean  and  Allison  a  committee  to  de- 
vise a  plan  by  which  ministers  out  of  charges  could  be  employed  in 
preaching  the  Gospel." 

The  blame  was  not  believed  to  lie  at  the  door  of  the  unemployed 
ministers,  except  in  a  very  few  exceptional  cases.  It  was  mainly  sup- 
posed to  exist  from  the  want  of  appropriate  means  of  bringing  the 
unemployed  ministers  and  vacant  congregations  together;  but  not 
only  this,  but  also  in  the  growing  disposition  in  the  churches  only  to 
settle  a  young  minister  just  from  the  Seminary,  or  of  but  a  few  years 
experience  in  the  ministry.  It  has  become  a  sad  and  is  still  a  growing 
evil,  and  if  some  means  be  not  devised  to  arrest  the  tendency,  will  do 
more  ihan  anything  else  in  deterring  young  men  of  reflection  from 
entering  the  ministry.  Young  ministers  in  time  grow  old,  and  as  the 
fathers  are  being  treated,  and  have  been,  so  may  they  expect  in  their 
turn  to  be  treated.  It  is  a  notorious  fact,  that  after  a  minister  has 
reached  his  forty-fifth,  or  his  fiftieth  year  in  age,  in  nine  cases  out 
of  ten,  he  is  considered  as  unsuitable  to  minister  to  most  congrega- 
tions, though  his  eye  be  not  dim,  or  his  natural  force  abated.  Con- 
trary to  universal  experience  in  all  other  professions,  a  novice  is 
preferred  to  one  of  enlarged  experience  and  attainments.  Men  and 
women  will  not  trust  the  health  of  their  bodies  to  the  young  and 
inexperienced  physician,  if  they  can  help  it,  but  souls  seem  to  be  less 
considered  in  the  choice  of  a  pastor.  If  it  were  not  so  serious  a  mat- 
ter, it  would  be  a  subject  of  ridicule,  to  hear  old  grey  headed  men  and 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  l'.t.'i 

elders  just  tottering  upon  the  brink  of  the  grave,  saying  of  a  minister 
only  just  past  middle  age,  "  he  is  too  old  to  preach  to  our  congrega- 
tion!'' The  good  elders,  however,  are  just  now  having  the  tables 
turned  upon  themselves.  What  means  this  growing  taste  for  rota- 
tion in  the  eldership?  The  elders  are  getting  too  old  to  serve  their 
respective  congregations.  The  Head  of  the  Church  did  not  think  that 
age  was  an  objection  when  he  instituted  the  office,  and  called  its 
occupants  Presbuteroi.  The  very  name  implies  that  the  elders  shall  be 
of  experienced,  established  age.  And  every  congregation  in  selecting 
their  elders,  will  find  it  for  the  interests  of  peace  and  purity,  to  select 
that  class  of  men.  Brother  ministers  are  also  often  to  blame  in  hin- 
dering the  settlement  of  unoccupied  ministers.  We  do  not  know 
that  many  ministers  are  as  inconsiderate  as  was  one,  who  meeting 
an  elder  of  a  vacant  congregation,  asked  "  who  supplied  your  pulpit 
last  Sabbath?"  and  when  he  was  told,  replied  "why  he  is  an  old 
man!  You  don't  want  an  old  man.'1'1  At  the  same  time  the  speaker 
was  at  least  ten  years  older  than  the  brother  of  whom  he  spoke,  and 
the  congregation  thus  advised  has  had  at  least  two  of  the  class  of 
young  ministers  since,  and  that  old  minister  has  been  serving  another 
congregation  with  acceptance,  and  as  vigorously  as  in  his  younger 
days,  and  far  more  wisely.  Other  reasons,  no  doubt,  operate  to  this 
end;  it  is  unnecessary  to  mention  them,  as  they  may  occur  to  the 
reader's  mind.  In  view  of  a  circular  issued  by  the  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions  about  this  time,  the  following  resolutions  were  offered  by  Dr. 
Clarke,  and  unanimously  adopted,  viz  : 

"Whereas,  our  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  in  a  recent  circular  to  our 
churches,  has  given  us  the  mournful  intimation,  that  in  consequence  of  the 
great  difference  in  exchange  the  missionary  operations  are  threatened  with 
serious  embarrassment,  if  not  disaster,  to  the  extent  of  recalling  some  of 
our  missionaries,  and  abandoning  important  and  promising  fields,  unless 
relieved  by  immediate  and  enlarged  contributions  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  1st.  That  we  earnestly  invite  our  people  to  increase  their  gifts 
to  this  precious  cause,  that  the  eminent  peril  to  its  interests  may  with  the 
Divine  favor  be  averted,  and  the  good  work  carried  successfully  forward. 

2d.  Relying  on  the  guidance  and  blessing  of  the  Master,  we  pledge 
ourselves  to  prompt  and  earnest  efforts  to  give  such  a  response  to  the  urgent 
call  of  our  excellent  Board  as  will  attest  our  sympathies  in  its  trials,  and 
afford  as  far  as  we  can  do  it  the  required  succor." 

We  have  no  means  now  of  ascertaining  the  result  of  this  appeal, 
but  by  referring  to  the  minutes  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  sue- 


196  HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

feeding  year.  By  doing  so  it  will  be  seen,  that  while  some  congrega- 
tions always  were  forward  in  this  cause,  this  year  the  contributions 
were  doubled,  and  in  some  congregations  more  than  doubled,  when 
compared  with  previous  years.  And  this  was  during  the  years  of  the 
rebellion,  when  private  resources  were  taxed  continually  in  behalf  of 
the  soldiers  in  the  field. 

In  connection  with  the  subject  of  contributions  to  the  Boards  of  the 
Church,  and  particularly  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  it  may  be 
appropriate  to  give  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  the  state  of  reli- 
gion during  these  years  of  distraction.  After  a  free  conversation  on 
the  state  of  religion,  the  Committee  on  the  narrative,  compressed  the 
whole  into  the  following  report,  viz  : 

"  The  Committee  on  the  state  of  religion  in  our  bounds  report,  that 
while  there  are  no  indications  of  the  special  presence  of  the  Spirit  in  the 
churches,  refreshing  God's  people  and  gathering  in  sinners  largely  from  the 
world,  yet  in  general  the  state  of  religion  in  our  congregations  is  gratify- 
ing and  encouraging. 

The  ordinances  have  been  regularly  administered,  the  attendance  on  the 
means  of  grace  is  good  ;  Sabbath-Schools  are  flourishing,  and  a  general 
prosperity  visible.  One  gratifying  feature  is,  that  amid  the  political  excite- 
ment of  the  day,  the  Churches  have  been  preserved  from  distraction  and  are 
in  peace.  AVe  gather  also  from  the  statements  of  the  brethren,  that  in 
many  of  the  churches,  the  contributions  to  religious  objects  has  been  con- 
siderably increased,  and  in  a  number  of  the  charges,  the  pastor's  salary  has 
been  increased." 

After  the  adoption  of  the  above  report,  a  motion  was  made  and 
carried  unanimously,  "  that  the  elders  and  trustees  of  the  churches 
connected  with  this  Presbytery,  which  have  not  recently  made  any 
additions  to  their  pastor's  salary,  be  requested  to  have  a  meeting  and 
inquire  whether  duty  to  the  Church's  Head,  and  to  his  ministers, 
does  not  require  that  there  should  be  an  addition  to  the  salaries  of 
their  pastors,  and  that  said  elders  and  trustees  report  to  Presbytery  at 
the  next  stated  meeting  the  result  of  their  deliberations  and  action 
on  this  subject.'' 

The  expenses  of  living  had  greatly  increased  during  and  since  the 
war.  A  salary  which  before  might  have  been  competent,  was  now 
insufficient,  while  the  truth  is,  the  larger  number  of  salaries  never 
were  sufficient  at  any  time.  The  necessity  of  a  suggestion  on  the 
part  of  Presbytery  arose  from  inconsideration  on  the  part  of  congre- 
gations.    Farmers,  tradesmen,  and  merchants,  could  live  as  comforta- 


HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    HUNTINGDON.  197 

bly  as  before,  for  the  price  of  labor,  and  all  kinds  of  merchandise,  had 
been  greatly  enhanced. 

A  committee  appointed  on  Systematic  Benevolence  reported  in 
substance,  that  all  the  churches  be  enjoined  to  take  up  annual  collec- 
tions for  all  the  Boards  and  the  disabled  minister's  fund,  that  it  be 
enjoined  on  the  Sessions  of  all  the  churches  to  record  on  their 
minutes  a  resolution  to  this  effect,  and  that  the  moderator  request  ;. 
pledge  of  each  member  of  the  Presbytery  now  jjresent  that  he  will 
see  to  it  that  this  matter  be  attended  to  without  delay.  The  Presby- 
tery had  previously  adopted  the  following  resolution  : 

"That  no  church  be  recommended  to  the  Board  of  Domestic  Mission? 
for  aid,  unless  it  take  up  collections  annually  for  all  the  Boards." 

Dr.  0.  0.  McClean  offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was 
adopted : 

"Resolved,  That  those  who  have  charge  of  Sabbath  Schools  be  more 
careful  in  the  selection  of  books,  and  that,  as  far  as  possible,  the  books  h* 
selected  from  those  published  by  our  own  Board." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  during  the  sessions  of  the  Synod  at 
Lewistown,  October  21.  1864,  Rev.  Messrs.  William  Prideaux  and  John 
H.  Clarke  were  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle.     Mr.  Pri- 
deaux was  called  to   Little  Valley,  and  Mr.  Clarke  to  Tyrone  am 
Birmingham. 

Suggestion  having  been  made  in  Synod  in  regard  to  furnishing  del- 
egates to  the  United  States  Christian  Commission,  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  report  on  the  subject,  and  so  to  arrange  matters  thai 
pastors  who  may  feel  free  to  volunteer  in  this  seiwice  temporally,  as 
well  as  elders  or  other  christian  laymen,  might  do  so  with  the  least 
possible  inconvenience  and  sacrifice  on  the  part  of  the  congregation-. 
This  committee  reported  at  considerable  length,  offering  a  number  of 
judicious  suggestions  for  carrying  out  the  objects  of  the  Presbytery. 
This  report  was  adopted  by  the  Presbytery  ;  but  it  is  only  necessary 
now  to  record  the  first  two  resolutions,  viz : 

"  1.  That  the  work  of  the  United  States  Christian  Commission  is  a  very 
important  and  necessary  part  of  the  Church's  duty  to  the  suffering. 

2.  That  the  Presbytery  hereby  gives  its  earnest  and  cordial  sanction  to 
such  of  its  ministers  and  ruling  elders  as  may   engage  personally  in  this 
work  of  faith  and  love,  under  the  direction  of  a  committee  to  be  appoints 
hy  the  Presbytery  for  this  purpose." 

It  is  believed  that  several  did,  both  before  and  after  this,  engage   i 
the  service  of  the  Christian  Commission. 


198  HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESBVTTERY    OP    HUNTINGDON'. 

With  some  statements  in  regard  to  revivals  of  religion  during  the 
time  embraced  in  the  history  of  the  Presbytery,  it  is  deemed  pi*oper 
with  this  ecclesiastical  year  to  close  this  history. 

As  it  was  not  generally  the  custom  to  make  any  permanent  record 
of  the  report  of  the  committee  appointed  at  each  stated  meeting  on 
the  state  of  religion,  there  are  no  means  of  arriving  at  any  probable 
knowledge  in  reference  to  special  times  of  revival,  except  by  consulting 
the  statistics  in  the  minutes  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  reported 
additions  from  year  to  year.  And  yet  these  presbyterial  reports  are 
known  to  be  very  inadequate  and  inaccurate ;  not  because  of  any  neg 
lect  on  the  part  of  the  stated  clerks,  but  because  of  insufficient  or  no 
reports  on  the  part  of  the  congregations.  We  know  that  there  were 
extensive  revivals  throughout  the  churches  of  the  Presbytery,  which 
would  scarcely  be  suspected  by  consulting  the  statistical  tables. 

However,  consulting  these  tables  from  1831  to  1864,  it  will  be  found 
that  the  years  1832-3,  1842-3,  1854-5,  1858-9,  must  have  been  years  of 
the  special  outpouring  of  Spirit,  compared  with  some  former  yeary. 
In  the  presbyterial  report  made  to  the  General  Assembly  in  1843, 
there  were  noted  the  following  unusual  additions  to  the  churches 
named,  on  examination.  To  the  church  of  Lewistown,  52;  to  Franks- 
town,  (Hollidaysburg,)  153;  to  Alexandria  and  Harts  Log,  79;  to 
Lower  Tuscarora,  106;  to  Perryville,  (Milroy,)  113;  to  McVeytown 
and  Newton  Hamilton,  125 ;  to  Williamsburg  and  Martinsburg,  75  ;  to 
Middle  Tuscarora,  52.  In  summing  up  the  admissions  on  examination 
of  that  year,  they  will  be  seen  to  be  nearly  double  those  of  any  other 
year  since  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery.  And  yet  other  years 
were  not  without  their  fruits,  and  special  indications  of  the  presence 
of  the  Spirit  of  God  in  the  churches.  Churches,  like  individual 
christians,  have  their  times  of  declension ;  and  no  doubt  from  much 
the  same  causes.  But  in  the  years  wherein  there  were  not  so  many 
additions  to  the  churches  from  the  world,  perhaps  believers  were 
growing  in  grace,  and  becoming  more  established  in  the  faith.  The 
solid  prosperity  of  the  church  is  not  always  to  be  measured  by  the 
numbers  added  from  the  world.  If  the  members  of  the  churches  be 
walking  in  all  the  ordinances  and  commandments  of  the  Lord  blame- 
lessly, the  saving  work  of  the  Gospel  upon  those  that  are  without, 
will  not  long  be  wanting.  But  a  true  revival  of  religion  begins  first 
among  the  members  of  the  church.  Indeed  the  very  term  properly 
implies  this.  A  real  and  extensive  revival  of  religion  may  be  con- 
ceived of,  where  there  is  not  one  addition  made  to  the  church  from 


HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESBYTERY    OF   HUNTINGDON.  199 

the  world ;  though  this  is  not  a  common  experience.  Yet  indeed 
there  has  been  a  marked  and  thorough  revival  of  religion,  where  there 
has  not  been  much  material  around  to  gather  in. 

But  what  it  is  desired  to  record,  is,  that  the  Presbytery  of  Hunting- 
don has  had  its  revivals,  not  apparently  so  extensive  as  in  some  other 
parts:  but  quite  extensively  as  to  the  materials  to  be  operated  upon. 
Twenty  to  be  added  at  one  time  to  a  church  in  the  country,  or  in  a 
small  country  village,  is  quite  as  extensive  as  hundreds  in  large  cities, 
when  the  materials  are  compared.  But  it  is  not  becoming  for  those 
to  make  any  boast  of  the  gracious  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  who  do 
not  deserve  the  least  recognition  by  way  of  approval  of  very  imper 
feet  service.  To  Him  be  the  glory  who  works  sovereignly,  and  by  the 
feeblest  instrumentality. 


200 


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PART  II. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  DECEASED 
MEMBERS  OF  THE  PRESBYTERY. 


REV.  JOHN  HOGE. 


TTERY  little  is  known,  at  the  present  time,  concerning  this  excel- 
'  lent  domestic  missionary ;  for  such  he  appears  to  have  been  all 
his  ministerial  life,  at  least  so  far  as  it  was  connected  with  the  Presby- 
tery of  Huntingdon.  He  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the 
Presbytery,  and  appointed  to  preside  at  its  organization,  and  was  after- 
wards the  first  moderator  by  choice  of  the  members.  The  place  and 
time  of  his  birth  are  to  us  unknown.  It  is  probable  he  was  of  foreign 
birth.  At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery  he  must 
have  been  of  considerable  age,  and  possibly  may  have  been  the  oldest 
member  of  Presbytery,  as  he  was  appointed  to  preside  at  the  organiza- 
tion, and  only  lived  twelve  years  afterwards.  If  he  were  not  the  old- 
est member,  then  he  must  have  been  the  one  at  the  time  best  known 
to  the  General  Assembly.  He  may,  however,  have  been  the  only  min- 
ister present  from  that  part  of  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle  which  was  to 
be  constituted  into  the  new  Presbytery,  and  therefore  appointed  to 
preside  at  the  organization.  The  first  authentic  information  we  have 
been  able  to  obtain  of  Mr.  Hoge,  is  the  record  of  his  being  attached 
to  the  old  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  along  with  Messrs.  Roan,  Rob't  Smith 
and  Sampson  Smith,  by  order  of  Synod,  June  5,  1759.  Two  years  be- 
fore the  formation  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  he  was  appointed 
to  supply  in  Northumberland  county.  One  year  previous  to  the  or- 
ganization he  was  appointed  to  supply  at  discretion.  He  was  doubt- 
less so  employed,  and  in  that  part  of  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle  when 
the  Presbytery  was  set  off.  The  balance  of  his  ministerial  life  was 
spent  in  the  same  region ;  though  no  one  can  be  found  who  can  give 
any  definite  information  concerning  him.     He  had  a  family,  of  whom 


212  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES   OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

nothing  is  known,  except  that  there  were  one  or  two  grandsons  of  his 
living  near  Watson  town,  Northumberland  county,  a  few  years  ago.  It 
appears  from  the  records  of  three  Presbyteries,  that  he  was  always 
highly  esteemed  as  a  minister  and  a  presbyter,  and  bore  an  unques- 
tioned character  for  piety  ;  and  we  would  infer  that  he  was  held 
in  consideration  as  a  preacher.  He  appears  never  to  have  been  a 
settled  pastor.  It  is  probable  he  had  peculiar  talents  for  hunting 
up  and  gathering  together  the  scattered  members  of  the  church. 
He  died  on  the  11th  day  of  February,  1807.  His  age  at  the  time 
of  his  death  is  not  known,  but  he  must  have  been  an  old  man,  as 
he  was  an  ordained  minister  in  1759,  forty-eight  years  before  the  time 
of  his  death. 


REV.  JAMES  MARTIN. 


MR.  MARTIN  was  a  native  of  the  County  Down,  Ireland.  He 
came  to  this  country  in  the  year  1774  or  '75.  He  was  then  a 
licensed  and  ordained  minister  of  the  Associate  Secession  church,  and 
for  a  time  labored  in  that  connexion  in  the  State  of  South  Carolina. 
In  the  year  1776  he  joined  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia;  and  the  next 
year  was  annexed  to  the  old  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  or  the  same  year  ; 
and  was  enrolled  a  member  of  the  Presbytery,  June  18,  1777.  Mr. 
Martin  was  first  settled  at  Piney  Creek,  being  installed  November  9, 
1780.  He  continued  in  this  relation  until  April  15,  1789,  when  the 
pastoral  relation  was  dissolved ;  and  at  the  same  time  he  received  and 
accepted  a  call  from  East  and  West  Penn's  Valley,  Warrior  Mark  and 
Half  Moon.  This  was  a  very  extensive  charge,  as  those  at  all  ac- 
quainted with  the  region  of  country  will  at  once  perceive.  In  this 
charge  he  continued  till  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the 
20th  of  June,  1795. 

Mr.  Martin  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Presbytery,  and 
it  was  in  his  church  in  East  Penn's  Valley,  that  the  Presbytery  was 
organized.  We  have  no  means  now  of  certainly  knowing,  but  have 
every  reason  to  believe  that  this  was  the  largest  charge,  as  it  respects 
the  number  of  church  members,  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery 
at  that  time. 

From  the  reports  that  have  come  down  to  us  by  tradition,  we  have 
no  hesitation  in  believing  that  he  was  an  able,  orthodox  and  popular 
preacher.  And  we  judge  not  alone  by  the  reports  that  have  come 
down  from  his  times,  but  have  had  the  opportunity  of  examining  for 
ourselves  some  skeleton  sermons  of  his,  with  which  we  were  favored 
by  his  grandson.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  very  earnest,  animated 
speaker,  and  we  know  that  such  notes  of  sermons,  filled  up  by  such  a 
speaker,  must  have  commanded  the  attention  of  any  audience.  Like 
all  the  preachers  of  that  day,  and  those  especially  of  the  denomina- 
tion from  which   he  originally  came,  lii^   sermons  were  long,  perhaps 


214  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

seldom  less  than  an  hour  and  a  half,  and  sometimes  considerably 
longer.  In  a  warm  summer  day,  it  was  not  unusual  for  him  to  take 
off  his  coat,  and  preach  in  his  shirt  sleeves.  In  the  pulpit  he  was  very 
forgetful  of  himself  and  his  personal  appearance,  so  intently  was  he 
taken  up  in  his  subject.  A  daughter-in-law,  then  an  aged  lady,  many 
years  ago,  told  the  writer  that  he  would  first  take  off"  his  coat,  then 
begin  to  loosen  his  cravat,  and  conclude  by  taking  off  his  wig,  holding 
it  in  his  hand,  and  shaking  .it  in  the  face  of  the  congregation. 
Another  relative  says,  that  during  the  course  of  his  sermon  his  wig 
would  become  all  awry,  the  back  part  turned  to  the  front,  and  he  all 
unconscious  of  the  metamorphosis.  Surely  a  man  of  such  earnestness 
was  above  and  beyond  the  ridicule  of  the  profane.  Mr.  Martin  did 
not  live  long  after  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery.  Indeed  he 
only  met  with  with  the  Presbytery  that  one  time,  as  he  died  before 
another  meeting.  The  Presbytery  was  constituted  on  the  14th  of 
April,  1795,  and  Mr.  Martin  died  on  the  20th  of  June  the  same  year. 

He  resided  in  Penn's  Valley,  near  to  Spring  Mills,  and  is  buried  in 
the  old  grave  yard  near  by ;  where  there  is  yet  standing  an  old  log 
church,  or  was  a  few  years  ago,  then  occupied  by  a  Lutheran  congre- 
gation. If  not  the  same  house  in  which  Mr.  Martin  used  to  preach, 
it  stands  upon  the  same  spot  of  ground.  The  writer  once  stood  at  his 
grave  and  read  the  inscription  on  his  grave  stone,  still  legible,  though 
he  was  then  dead  sixty  years.  Mr.  Marti  x  was  twice  married.  His 
first  wife  was  Annie  McCoullough,  who  died  when  Samuel,  her  young- 
est son,  was  some  two  hours  old.  His  second  wife  was  Ellen  David- 
son of  York  county.  After  his  death  she  returned  to  York  county. 
She  had  no  children.  A  grand-daughter  thinks  he  was  about  sixty 
years  of  age  when  he  died.  Mr.  Martin  had  four  sons,  James,  Sam- 
uel, John  and  Robert,  and  three  daughters.  James,  the  eldest,  was 
educated  for  the  ministry,  but  never  became  a  minister ;  and  spent  his 
life  in  teaching.  He  never  married.  John  married,  and  we  have 
some  of  his  children  among  us  at  this  day.  Of  the  history  of  Samuel 
we  know  nothing.  Robert  removed  to  Kentucky,  and  some  of  his 
descendants  are  living  there  at  this  time. 

One  of  his  daughters  married  Edward  Bell,  Esq.  of  Tuckahoe  Val- 
ley. She  was  the  mother  of  a  numerous  family,  one  of  whom  is  a 
minister  in  the  regular  Baptist  denomination :  and  but  for  him  the 
ministerial  profession  would  have  become  extinct  in  the  Martin  line. 
Another  married  Judge  John  Stewart  of  Canoe  Valley,  Huntingdon 
county,  who  also  left  sons  and  daughters  of  respectability  and  influ- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES   OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  315 

ence  in  their  day.  A  third  daughter  married  a  gentleman  also  of  the 
name  of  Bell,  but  no  relative  of  the  former.  Without  being  able  to 
state  the  precise  age  of  Mr.  Martin  at  the  time  of  his  death,  there  are 
reasons  inducing  the  belief  that  he  could  not  have  been  much  less 
than  sixty-seven.  We  know  that  he  was  preaching  in  Ireland  in  1758, 
and  he  may  have  been  30  years  of  age  at  that  time,  which  would  make 
him  67  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

The  notes  of  a  single  sermon,  or  rather  part  of  a  sermon,  by  Mr. 
Martin,  are  subjoined  as  a  specimen  of  his  mode  of  sermonizing,  and 
of  his  theology,  showing  it  to  be  of  the  good  old  Pauline  type.  And 
it  may  be  added,  that  he  seldom,  if  ever,  wrote  out  a  sermon  in  full, 
which  was  not  fashionable  in  those  times.  But  if  any  suppose  that 
their  sermons  were  not  duly  studied  and  prepared,  they  are  greatly 
mistaken.  They  had  not  time  to  waste  on  the  mechanical  part,  or  for 
ornamentation,  but  the  substantial  .part  was  genuine  food  for  hungry 
souls. 

The  text  is  taken  from  the  Epistle  to  the  Ephesians,  2d  chapter,  .'), 
4,  5  verses;  particularly  the  last  part  of  the  3d  verse — "and  were  by 
nature  the  children  of  wrath,  even  as  others.'1'1 

From  this  text  the  following  doctrine  was  raised :  Doctrine — Though 
the  state  of  all  mankind  by  nature,  and  actual  transgression,  is  a  state 
of  misery — a  state  wherein  they  are  liable  to  wrath — yet  it  is  not  a 
desperate  state,  for  as  such  they  are  objects  of  mercy  and  redeeming 
love.  Or  shortly — though  man's  state  by  nature  is  deplorable  yet  it  is 
not  desperate. 

I.  I  will  shew  what  is  presupposed  or  imported  in  being  children  of 
wrath  by  nature. 

II.  Treat  of  and  confirm  the  point,  viz :  that  we  are  children  of 
wrath  by  nature. 

III.  Shew  that  this  makes  not  our  case  desperate,  because  we  have 
to  do  with  a  Grod  that  is  rich  in  mercy,  who  will  not,  for  his  great  love 
wherewith  he  hath  loved  mankind  sinners,  fail  to  save  all  that  make 
application  to  him  as  in  Christ. 

15.  Deduce  some  inferences. 

I.    WHAT  IS  PRESUPPOSED.   fcO. 

1.  That  they  are  sinners — are  guilty  of  sin.  (1.)  Imputatively. 
(2.)  Inherently. 

2.  Their  being  guilty  and  polluted  further  presupposes  their  rela- 
tion to  Adam  as  their  natural  and  moral,  or  federal  head;  that  a  cove- 
nant was  entered — Gen.  2:10.  17;  3:2,  3;  HoseaG:7;  Rom.  5:12  to 
the  end. 


316  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES   OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

3.  His  breach  of  the  covenant — Rom.  5 :  12,  &c,  &c,  &c. 

4  His  losing  the  image  of  God  as  a  punishment,  and  our  losing  it 
in  him — so  by  nature  we  are  children  of  wrath,  i.  e.  we  are  under  the 
curse  of  the  broken  covenant,  have  forfeited  the  image  of  God,  or  are 
spiritually  dead,  liable  to  all  temporal  miseries,  "  to  death  itself,  and 
the  pains  of  hell  forever."     (Shorter  Catechism.) 

But  this  is  the  point  to  be  proved,  2d  Head. 

We  might  illustrate  and  confirm  by  many  arguments.  The  Scrip- 
tures abound  with  direct  and  positive  statements,  all  which  might  be 
insisted  upon  to  prove  that  we  are  both  guilty  and  filthy  by  nature, 
and  liable  to  all  miseries. 

1.  All  mankind  by  nature  are  under  the  curse  of  the  law,  and  guilty 
before  God.  Rom.  3 :  19.  Not  a  few,  or  some  only,  for  the  apostle  has 
both  Jews  and  Gentiles,  whether  young  or  old,  to  be  under  sin  and 
wrath ;  the  reason  is,  because  all  have  sinned,  verse  23,  and  none  need 
justification  by  grace  but  such.  If  there  are  any  not  guilty,  they 
have  no  need  of  a  Redeemer;  but  all  have  sinned  in  their  federal 
head.     Rom.  5  :  19. 

2.  If  all  are  liable  to  death,  spiritual,  temporal  and  eternal,  then  all, 
young  and  old,  must  be  by  nature  children  of  wrath ;  for  if  children 
are  subject  to  death,  though  but  natural  death,  they  must  be  guilty  of 
some  sin,  either  committed  by  themselves  or  some  other,  for  death  is 
the  wages  of  sin.     Rom.  6  :  23  and  5  :  14. 

3.  Children  stand  in  need  of  being  blessed  by  Christ,  because  they, 
are  guilty  and  unclean.  "Suffer  little  children,"  &c.  Circumcision 
under  the  law,  and  baptism  under  the  Gospel,  prove  their  guilt  and 
defilement.  They  need  to  be  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost.  John 
1 :  33.  If  children  are  pure,  then  the  Disciples  were  right  in  forbid  - 
ding  them  to  be  brought  to  Christ. 

4.  The  above  competent  Judge  has  declared  that  every  imagination 
of  man's  heart  is  only  evil  continually — and  from  his  infancy.  Gen. 
6:  5  and  8:21. 

5.  The  Spirit  of  God  has  declared  it  a  thing  impossible  to  bring  a 
clean  thing  out  of  an  unclean.  Job  14  : 4.  Psalms  51 :  5.  According 
to  the  laws  of  natural  propagation  this  cannot  be  done ;  hence  Jesus 
must  be  born  after  an  extraordinary  manner.  This  serves  to  prove 
our  natural  defilement. 

6.  If  none  can  enter  the  kingdom  of  God  unless  they  are  born 
again,  then  in  their  natural  state  they  must  be  utterly  wrecked  and 
ruined.  John  3:3,  5,  6.  The  contrary  notion  renders  regeneration 
an  empty  thing. 

7.  Unless  all,  young  and  old,  are  children  of  wrath  by  nature,  they 
are  not  objects  of  mercy  in  their  natural  state. 


REV.  HUGH  MAGILL. 


MR.  MAGI  LI,  was 
He  was  a  native 


one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Presbytery. 
re  of  Ireland,  licensed  and  ordained  before  com- 
ing to  this  country.  He  was  received  by  the  2d  Presbytery  of  Phila- 
delphia in  1776;  and  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  Oc- 
tober 15,  1777,  and  installed  pastor  of  Lower  Tuscarora  and  Cedar 
Spring,  November,  1789.  (Cedar  Spring  congregation  is  now  known  as 
Mifflin  and  Lost  Creek.)  This  was  sixteen  years  before  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon.  At  the  next  meeting  of  the 
Presbytery  after  the  organization,  Mr.  Magill's  pastoral  relation  to 
Lower  Tuscarora  was  dissolved  at  his  own  request,  and  with  the  con- 
3ent  of  the  congregation.  The  reasons  assigned  were,  his  age,  infirm- 
ities, and  other  circumstances.  He  continued  to  be  the  pastor  of 
Cedar  Spring  till  the  beginning  of  the  year  1799,  at  which  time,  by 
mutual  consent,  this  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved.  Towards  him,  at 
this  time,  the  congregation  of  Cedar  Spring  manifested  a  commenda- 
ble spirit  of  generosity.  In  consideration  of  his  infirmities,  and  past 
Labors,  they  agreed  to  pay  him  an  annuity  of  thirty  dollars,  and  con- 
tinue to  him  the  use  of  the  Glebe  during  his  natural  life  ;  with  certain 
provisos  which  were  eminently  reasonable.  Difficulties  afterwards 
trose  between  Mr.  Magii.l  and  the  congregation,  which  required  the 
interposition  of  Presbytery.  The  truth  of  history  requires  us  to  state 
that  the  fault  does  not  appeal'  to  have  been  on  the  part  of  the  congre- 
gation, but  Mr.  Magill  herein  manifested  not  only  bodily  infirmities, 
but  great  infirmities  of  mind.  At  one  time  during  the  progress  of 
these  difficulties  he  renounced  the  authority  of  Presbytery,  but  after- 
wards submitted  himself  to  their  judgment,  which  was  very  lenient  in 
view  of  his  age  and  infirmities.  ITe  was  removed  by  death  on  the  14tb 
of  September,  ISO.). 


REV.  JOHN  JOHNSTON. 


THE  Rev.  John  Johnston  was  born  in,  or  near  to  the  city  of  Belfast. 
Ireland,  in  the  year  1750.  He  came  to  this  country  in  1784-5, 
and  was  received  by  the  1st  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  from  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Belfast,  as  an  ordained  minister  the  same  year.  Was  receiv- 
ed by  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle  from  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia, 
May  26,  1787,  and  installed  pastor  of  Harts  Log  and  Shaver's  Creek, 
November  following.  His  pastoral  relation  with  Shaver's  Creek  was 
dissolved,  October  7,  1789 ;  and  he  accepted  a  call  from  Huntingdon 
and  neighborhood  for  one-half  of  his  time,  April  13,  1790.  He  was 
probably  married  about  the  year  1788  to  Jane  McBeth  of  Cumberland 
county,  Pa.  Her  father  then  owned  what  was  called  the  Big  Spring 
farm  in  said  county. 

At  the  time  when  Mr.  Johnston  commenced  his  pastoral  labors  in 
the  town  of  Huntingdon  the  congregation  had  no  house  of  worship  of 
their  own,  for  the  deed  of  the  lot  on  which  the  first  church  was  built 
is  dated  14th  November,  1795;  and  Mr.  Johnston's  name  appears  as 
one  of  the  board  of  trustees  to  whom  the  deed  was  made,  together 
with  Andrew  Henderson,  John  Patton,  Matthew  Simpson  and  Wil- 
liam Nesbit.  But  the  congregation  was  recognized  as  an  organized 
congregation  in  1790.  They  probably  worshipped  in  the  Court  House, 
or  some  other  public  building,  till  this  time.  Mr.  Johnston  continued 
to  be  the  pastor  of  the  united  congregations  of  Harts  Log  and  Hunt- 
ingdon till  near  the  close  of  his  life.  He  resigned  the  charge  of  the 
former  congregation  June  13,  1823,  and  died  December  16,  of  the  same 
year. 

During  the  progress  of  the  war  with  England,  beginning  in  1812, 
some  dissatisfaction  with  Mr.  .Johnston's  ministerial  services  appeared 
in  the  congregation  of  Harts  Log,  which  finally  resulted  in  a  division 
of  the  congregation,  of  which  we  have  given  an  account  in  the  course 
of  this  history,  and  which  appears  to  have  been  mainly  political.     It 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  219 

was  not  a  personal  opposition  to  him,  only  as  he  happened  to  differ 
from  a  part  of  the  congregation  in  his  views  of  public  events  then 
transpiring.  He  held  the  larger  part  of  the  congregation  of  Harts 
Log  till  near  the  time  of  his  death ;  and  then  the  relation  was  dis- 
solved at  his  own  request,  and  because  of  the  infirmities  of  old  age. 
Mr.  Johnston  died,  as  already  stated,  in  the  middle  of  the  last  month 
of  the  year  1823,  in  the  73d  year  of  his  age.  He  left  a  family  of  six 
children — four  sons,  Alexander,  Thomas,  Andrew  and  John :  and  two 
•  laughters,  Margaret  and  Anna.  His  sons  are  still  living,  the  daugh- 
ters are  dead.  Alexander,  the  eldest,  is  a  physician  of  eminent  skill, 
who  practised  long  in  the  town  and  vicinity  of  Hollidaysburg,  but  has 
now  retired,  and  is  living  in  the  town  of  Armagh,  Indiana  county. 
Andrew  is  still  residing  in  Huntingdon,  the  place  of  his  birth,  and  has 
held  several  county  offices.  Of  the  other  sons  we  can  give  no  account, 
except  that  they  are  still  living.*  They  are  a  long  lived  family.  The 
doctor,  Alexander,  is  now  between  eighty  and  ninety  years  of  age, 
and  is  ^till  very  active  upon  his  feet. 

Mr.  Johnston  appears  to  have  been  the  first  regularly  installed 
pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Huntingdon.  The  names  of  the  origi- 
nal members  of  the  session  cannot  now  be  ascertained,  as  the  first 
records  of  the  congregation  were  burned  up,  with  the  court  house, 
before  1795.  But  it  is  probable  that  those  who  with  Mr.  Johnston 
were  recognized  as  trustees,  to  whom  the  deed  was  given  for  the  lot 
on  which  the  church  was  afterwards  built,  were  also  elders.  Mr.  J. 
tor  many  years  taught  a  classical  school  in  Huntingdon,  in  connection 
with  the  pastoral  charge.  He  was  the  second  stated  clerk  of  the 
Presbytery  after  it  was  constituted,  and  never  were  the  minutes  more 
neatly  kept,  or  distinctly  written  by  any  stated  clerk.  He  appears  to 
have  been  a  superior  pensman.  Without  having  had  the  opportunity 
of  inquiring  of  any  who  may  be  supposed  to  know  what  his  reputa- 
tion was  in  his  day  as  a  preacher,  we  conclude  from  personal  examina- 
tion of  a  number  of  his  manuscripts  that  he  was  a  very  instructive 
preacher.  Xor  do  we  know  what  was  his  mode  of  delivering  his 
sermons,  whether  by  reading  or  memoriter,  but  we  know  that  he 
wrote  out  carefully  and  probably  depended  on  his  memory,  without 
having  recourse  to  his  manuscript.  If  his  manner  in  the  pulpit  was 
animated,  his  preparations  were  such  as  must  have  commanded  the 


*Since  writing  the  foregoing,  it  has  been  ascertained  that  Thomas,  the  second  son  qf  Mi- 
Johnston,  i-  also  a  physician  and  still  living. 


220  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

attention  and  edified  his  hearers.  It  was  the  original  intention  to 
have  given  a  specimen  sermon  of  the  old  men  of  the  original  members 
of  the  Presbytery,  by  which  their  ordinary  Sabbath  performances 
might  be  judged,  but  for  want  of  space  we  are  compelled  to  abandon 
the  idea.  We  have  in  our  possession  two  sermons  of  Mr.  Johnston  on 
the  Resurrection ;  the  one  on  the  general  subject,  the  other  in  answer 
to  the  question,  "Whether  the  same  body  of  that  identical  person, 
which  the  soul  animated  here,  shall  be  raised,  and  that  these  united 
shall  live  throughout  eternity?'1  These  are  very  learned  and  inter- 
esting discourses  of  which  we  attempted  a  synopsis,  but  found  that  it 
could  not  be  done  without  marring  the  beauty  and  excellency  of  the 
sermons,  and  confusing  the  subject.  However,  the  man  and  minister 
who  sustained  the  pastoral  relation  to  the  same  congregations — to  one 
36  years,  and  to  the  other  33 — must  have  been  a  very  respectable  and 
acceptable  preacher,  and  we  know  that  the  leading  men  of  these 
congregations  were  always  of  the  most  intelligent  character. 


REV.   JAMES  JOHNSTON. 


HE  was  a  native  of  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  studied 
Theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Cooper,  pastor  of  the  congregation  of 
Middle  Spring,  who  kept  a  Divinity  Hall,  in  which  a  number  of  min- 
isters of  high  standing  in  their  day  went  through  their  course  of 
study  preparatory  to  licensure.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Donegal,  October  11,  1783,  and  ordained  by  the  same  Presbytery 
August  19,  1784,  and  installed  pastor  of  East  Kishacoquillas  con- 
gregation ;  West  Kishacoquillas  was  comprehended  in  his  charge, 
though  it  does  not  appear  that  he  was  installed  over  the  latter  as  a 
separate  congregation.  However,  he  was  released  from  the  charge  of 
the  West  end  by  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  October  5,  1796,  but 
remained  pastor  of  the  East  Church,  in  connection  with  Little  Valley, 
till  the  time  of  his  death.  The  people  of  the  West  end  were  very 
unwilling  to  give  him  up  at  the  time  of  his  resignation,  and  proposed 
to  the  Presbytery  that  they  would  be  satisfied  with  such  part  of  his 
time  as  his  health  would  permit  him  to  give  them.  As  he  continued 
to  serve  East  Kishacoquillas  congregation  for  twenty-four  years  after 
this  time,  and  with  unabated  acceptance,  it  is  probable  that  in  one  of 
his  depressed  moods  he  resigned  the  charge  of  West  Kishacoquillas, 
for  he  had  a  strong  tincture  of  melancholy  in  his  constitution. 

He  was  much  respected  by  his  co-presbyters  as  a  minister  and  as  a 
friend.  His  counsels  on  the  floor  of  Presbytery  were  always  accepta- 
ble and  influential.  As  a  preacher  he  was  popular,  and  as  a  pastor 
much  beloved  by  his  congregation  till  the  end  of  his  ministry.  He 
appears  to  have  been  a  very  scriptural  preacher,  I.  e.  dealing  more  with 
the  Scriptures  by  way  of  proof  and  illustration  of  the  doctrines  which 
he  advanced,  than  with  imagination,  rhetoric,  or  logic ;  satisfied  him- 
self and  satisfying  his  people  with  a  "Thus  saith  the  Lord.-1-1  He  was  at 
the  same,  time  a  very  affecting  preacher.  His  own  sympathies  were 
very  readily  aroused  in  the  pulpit  by  his  subject,  and  consequently 
had  much  power  over  the  sympathies  of  others.     We  have  been  tol< 


TSl  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

that  it  was  not  an  uncommon  thing  to  see  his  sermons  watered  hy  his 
tears.  He  was  not  much  of  a  Boanergas,  hut  he  was  a  Barnabas,  "a 
son  of  consolation."  He  seems  to  have  had  special  adaptation  to  the 
settlement  of  difficulties  among  contending  parties  in  the  church. 
At  least  he  was  generally  appointed  by  the  Presbytery  on  committees 
in  business  of  this  kind,  and  usually  the  chairman.  This  may  have 
been  out  of  respect  to  his  age,  and  sound  judgment  as  well  as  his 
conciliatory  disposition.  In  illustration  of  his  judicious  selection  of  a 
subject  suited  to  such  an  occasion,  as  well  as  to  give  a  specimen  of  his 
character  as  a  preacher,  we  subjoin  the  notes  of  a  sermon  which  he 
preached  as  chairman  of  a  committee  sent  to  endeavor  to  heal  the 
divisions  in  the  Church  of  Hart's  Log  in  1816. 

Rom.  14:19.  "  Let  us  therefore  follow  after  the  things  which  make  for 
peace,  and  things  wherewith  one  may  edify  another.'' 

After  a  comparatively  long  introduction,  but  not  inappropriate,  he 
proposes  to  discuss  the  text  in  the  following  order. 

I.  To  mention  a  few  of  those  things  which  make  for  peace,  and  will 
have  a  tendency  to  restore  and  maintain  peace  among  contending 
christians. 

II.  To  enforce  the  duty  (enjoined  by  the  Apostle  in  the  text)  by  :i 
few  motives  and  arguments. 

I.    MENTION    A    PEW    THINGS    WHICH    MAKE    FOR    PEACE,    4C. 

1.  The  first  thing  then  that  I  shall  mention  is  meekness,  or  ;i  tem- 
per of  mind  that  is  not  easily  provoked,  that  suffers  injuries  without 
a  disposition  or  desire  of  revenge,  and  quietly  submits  to  the  will  of 
God  in  whatever  he  in  the  course  of  his  providence  may  think  fit  to 
bring  our  way. 

2.  The  second  is  humility,  which  is  a  most  excellent  grace  of  the 
spirit,  evidencing  the  subject  of  it  to  be  a  child  of  God,  and  is  accom- 
panied with  contentment,  peace,  and  submission  to  the  will  of  heaven. 

3.  The  third  is  self-denial.  To  deny  ourselves  is  the  fundamental 
law  of  admission  into  the  school  of  Christ.  It  is  the  strait  gate  and 
narrow  way  that  leads  to  life  and  peace. 

4.  A  forgiving  temper  or  disposition  of  mind  will  have  a  might) 
influence  in  restoring  and  maintaining  peace  among  contending 
christians. 

5.  Another  thing  which  restores  and  maintains  peace  among 
christians,  is  love,  which  is  a  gracious  habit  wrought  in  the  soul  by 
the  operations  of  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  whereby  we  are  inclined  to 
delight  in,  esteem  and  earnestly  desire  to  enjoy  an  interest  in  God's 
favor  and  communion  with   him  as  our  chief  good,  portion  and  happi- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OP    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  'S2o 

ness,  and  which  disposeth  us  to  do  good  to  all,  especially  to  such  as 
resemble  God  in  holiness  and  bear  his  image.  Without  this  love  to 
God  and  to  our  fellow  men,  agreeably  to  the  express  declaration  of 
the  Apostle  Paul,  we  can  have  no  real  pretensions  to  religion  at  all. 
1  Cor.  13:1-8. 

6.  I  shall  mention  one  other  thing,  and  that  is  an  abatement  of  our 
warmth  about  things  indifferent,  or  things  not  essential  to  salvation, 
and  on  the  contrary  manifesting  a  tender  zeal  for  the  great  things  of 
our  holy  religion  wherein  we  are  all  agreed. 

II.    ENFORCE     THE     DUTY. 

And  first  of  all  I  shall  endeavor  to  enforce  the  duty  by  an  argument 
which  is  of  such  a  nature,  that  supposing  I  had  no  other,  I  presume 
it  would  be  deemed  sufficient  by  every  real  christian,  namely,  that  it 
is  the  express  command  of  the  Great  Jehovah,  the  Creator  and 
Governor  of  the  world.     Ps.  34: 14.    Rom.  12: 18,  etc. 

2.  I  would  urge  and  enforce  the  duty  by  the  example  of  the 
Saviour. 

3.  From  the  example  of  those  eminent  saints  who  have  gone  before 
us,  and  who  were  highly  exemplary  in  following  after  the  things 
which  make  for  peace,  e.  g.  Moses,  the  Apostle  Paul. 

4.  1  would  enforce  the  duty  from  the  consideration  that  we  are 
always  under  the  immediate  inspection  of  that  adorable  Being  who 
looks  immediately  into  the  heart,  and  requires  truth  in  the  inward 
parts,  and  at  whose  tremendous  bar  we  must  all  sooner  or  later  stand 
to  give  an  account. 

5.  I  would  urge  the  duty  from  the  consideration  of  the  profession 
we  make,  and  the  name  we  wear. 

INFERENCES. 

1.  Let  us  learn  from  this  subject  that  it  is  our  duty,  and  will  event- 
ually turn  to  our  interest,  to  be  engaged  in  fervent  prayer  to  God  for 
more  meekness,  humility,  self-denial,  love,  and  more  of  a  forgiving 
temper,  which  will  have  a  happy  influence  in  restoring  and  maintain- 
ing peace  among  christians. 

2.  Let  us  learn  not  to  be  rash  in  impugning  and  condemning  those 
of  our  fellow  men  who  may  differ  from  us  in  opinion,  considering  that 
they  do  not  see  with  the  same  eyes,  hear  with  the  same  ears,  or  under- 
stand and  reason  with  the  same  brain  that  we  do.  Consider  also  our 
fallability,  and  the  numerous  instances  in  which  we  have  been  entirely 
mistaken  when  confident  that  we  were  in  the  right. 

3.  Let  us  from  this  subject  be  led  to  lament  the  depravity  of  human 
nature,  and  to  mourn  over  the  remainders  of  corruption  in  the  best 
of  men  while  in  this  life,  which  occasion  strifes  and  contentions 
among  real  christians. 


224  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

4.  As  Jesus  Christ  suffered,  bled  and  died  to  procure  peace  between 
3-od  and  man,  and  between  man  and  man,  let  us  frequently  take  a 
view  of  that  spotless  victim,  the  Lamb  of  God ;  and  then  may  we  hear 
his  peace  speaking  blood,  as  it  were  addressing  us,  and  saying,  "  0  my 
follower,  be  at  peace  with  God  and  live  in  j:>eace  among  yourselves." 

5.  Let  us,  my  brethren,  with  joy  anticipate  the  time  when  we  hope 
to  be  all  admitted  into  those  mansions  of  rest,  which  the  Redeemer 
has  gone  to  prepare  for  his  followers,  when  we  will  be  fully  and  forever 
freed  from  all  sin,  as  well  as  all  temptations  to  sin,  and  consequently 
from  all  strifes  and  contentions,  either  among  ourselves  or  with 
others. 

Mr.  Johnston  died  at  his  home  in  East  Kishacoquillas,  near  the 
town  of  Reedsville,  on  the  3d  of  January,  1820.  The  following  obitu- 
ary notice  was  published  in  the  Juniata  Gazette  (now  the  Lewistown  Ga- 
zette) on  the  20th  of  January  following: 

"At  his  residence,  on  Monday  night  the  3d  instant,  (January,  1820,)  after 
a  short,  but  most  severe  illness,  the  Rev.  James  Johnston.  The  deceased 
was  an  eminent  and  zealous  preacher  of  the  word  of  God.  He  had,  for 
many  years,  been  stationed  among  and  preached  to  two  large  congregations 
in  Kishacoquillas  and  Dry  Valley.  His  talents  as  a  preacher,  were  superem- 
inent.  and  were  exerted  to  the  utmost  in  the  advancement  of  the  cause  of 
the  Redeemer,  and  happiness  of  his  people.  He  was  tender  and  affectionate, 
and  often  have  we  seen  him,  while  speaking  from  the  pulpit  in  the  sincerity 
of  his  heart,  become  so  much  affected,  that  utterance  would  be  for  a  moment 
stopped,  and  his  cheek  suffused  with  a  flood  of  tears.  In  conversation  he 
was  cheerful  and  animated,  and  his  own  fireside,  as  well  as  that  of  his 
neighbors,  has  lost  one  of  its  most  cheerful  companions.  Those  who  know 
him  best  can  testify  to  his  worth.  His  family  has  lost  one  of  the  kindest 
and  best  of  parents,  and  his  congregation  a  faithful  and  pious  pastor.  He 
has  now  left  his  earthly  abode  to  join  that  heavenly  throng  on  high,  of 
which  we  have  so  often  heard  him  speak  in  almost  inspired  strains.  He 
has  been  a  good  and  faithful  servant  of  his  Lord,  and  will,  no  doubt,  re- 
ceive the  cheering  plaudit — '  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant,  enter 
thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord.'  However  bitter  may  be  the  anguish  of  his 
family  and  friends  at  their  bereavement,  they  have  the  consolation  that  his 
exemplary  life  justifies  the  belief  that  he  has  only  been  removed  from  this 
world  of  trouble  to  join  the  heavenly  hosts  in  the  world  above  where  pleas- 
ires  never  cease,  and  troubles  come  no  more." 

Mr.  Johnston  married  a  daughter  of  Judge  Brown  of  Kishacoquillas 
Valley,  by  whom  he  had  a  family  of  several  sons  and  daughters.  The 
daughters,  we  believe,  are  all  dead.  Only  one  of  the  sons  is  now  living. 
Though  the  obituary  notice,  which  is  copied  from  the  Lewistown  Ga- 
zette, may  be  somewhat  exaggerated,  yet  it  shows  the  general  estima- 
tion in  which  lie  was  held  as  a  man  and  a  minister  while  living. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  225 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  call  presented  to  Mr.  Johnston  from 
the  congregation  of  East  Kishacoquillas.  Though  not  exactly  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  form  prescribed  in  the  book,  yet  all  will  say  it  is  in 
a  very  good  form,  and  in  some  respects  superior.  It  is  said  to  have 
been  in  the  hand  writing  of  Master  Arnold,  a  famous  teacher  and 
pensman  of  that  day. 

"  Mr,  James  Johnston,  Preacher  of  the  Gospel: 

Sir  : — We,  the  subscribers,  members  of  the  united  congregations  of  East 
and  West  Kishacoquillas,  having  never  in  this  place  had  the  stated  admin- 
istration of  Gospel  ordinances,  yet  highly  prizing  the  same,  and  having  a 
view  to  the  advancement  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  and  the  spiritual  edifi- 
cation of  ourselves  and  families,  have  set  ourselves  to  obtain  that  blessing 
amongst  us  ;  and  therefore  as  we  have  had  the  opportunity  of  some  of  your 
labors  in  this  place,  and  are  satisfied  with  your  soundness,  piety,  and  minis- 
terial ability  to  break  unto  us  the  bread  of  life,  we  do  most  heartily  and 
sincerely,  in  the  name  of  great  Shepherd  of  the  flock,  Jesus  Christ,  call  and 
invite  you  to  come  and  take  the  pastoral  charge  and  oversight  of  us  in  the 
Lord.  And  for  your  encouragement,  we  do  promise,  if  God  do  dispose  your 
heart  to  embrace  this  call,  that  we  will  pay  a  dutiful  attention  to  the  word 
and  ordinances  of  God,  by  you  administered,  that  we  will  be  subject  to  your 
admonitions  and  reproofs,  should  our  falls  and  miscarriages  expose  us 
thereto,  and  will  submit  to  the  discipline  of  the  Church,  exercised  by  you 
agreeably  to  the  word  of  God  ;  and  also  that  we  will  treat  your  person  with 
friendship  and  respect,  and  behave  in  all  things  towards  you  as  becomes 
christians  towards  their  pastor,  who  labors  among  them  in  word  and 
doctrine. 

And  further,  as  we  are  persuaded  that  those  who  serve  at  the  altar  should 
live  by  the  altar,  we  do  promise,  in  order  that  you  may  be,  as  much  as  pos- 
sible, freed  from  worldly  incumberances,  to  provide  for  your  comfortable 
and  honorable  maintenance  in  the  manner  set  forth  in  our  subscription 
papers  accompanying  this  our  call  during  your  continuance  with  us  as  our 
regular  pastor.  And  in  witness  of  our  hearty  desire  to  have  you  settle 
among  us,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  names  this  fifteenth  of  March,  Anno 
Domini,  1783." 

To  this  call  is  appended  a  list  of  sixty-nine  names,  yet  familiar  in 
the  valley  in  the  persons  of  their  descendants. 

Mr.  Johnston  was  in  the  66th  year  of  his  age  at  the  time  of  his 
death. 

Since  the  preceding  sketch  was  prepared  I  have  been  favored  with 
the  perusal  of  a  letter  addressed  by  Mr.  Wm.  E.  Johnston,  only  sur- 
viving son  of  Rev.  James  Johnston,  to  Col.  John  Taylor  of  East  Kish- 
acoquillas Valley,  from  which  the  following  ^  historical  extracts  are 
taken. 

29 


226  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES   OF   DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

"  My  father  was  born  on  September  25,  1754,  on  a  farm  situated  about 
four  miles  south  of  Shippensburg,  Cumberland  county,  Pa.  After  complet- 
ing an  academical  course  at  a  classical  school  in  Chambersburg,  he  and  a 
brother  entered  the  army  of  the  Revolution.  He  was  at  the  battles  of 
Brandywine,  Germantown,  Monmouth,  Trenton  and  Valley  Forge. 
Whilst  at  Monmouth  he  was  religiously  impressed  with  the  conduct  of  that 
good  man  Washington,  and  how  he  was  protected  by  an  all-wise  Provi- 
dence. My  father  was  in  a  small  frame  house  into  which  the  wounded  were 
brought,  was  assisting  in  the  care  of  the  wounded,  (as  he  intended  to  be  a 
physician  in  the  first  place,)  Gen.  Washingron  was  in  the  saddle  in  front 
of  the  house,  the  British  concentrated  a  part  of  their  fire  on  the  house.  The 
first  ball  tore  up  the  ground  within  a  few  feet  of  Washington,  throwing  the 
earth  all  over  him.  He  never  moved  an  inch,  either  to  change  his  position, 
or  to  brush  the  dirt  from  his  clothes.  The  next  ball  took  the  top  from  the 
chimney.  The  next  went  through  the  upper  story.  All  this  time  the  Gen- 
eral was  stationary. 

After  returning  home,  my  father  resumed  his  studies,  and  graduated  at 
the  college  at  Princeton,  New  Jersey,  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1781  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Cumberland  (Carlisle).  In  1783  the  famous  call  from 
Kishacoquillas  Valley  was  made  out  for  him,  which  he  accepted,  and  where 
he  labored  all  his  life.  January  4,  1785,  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Brown.  His  family  consisted  of  seven  children,  three  sons,  and  four 
daughters.  In  a  conversation  with  Judge  Kyle,  he  said  that  one  time  in 
particular  he  remembered,  whilst  a  boy,  he  came  a  straight  course  through 
the  fields,  on  snow  over  the  tops  of  the  fences,  to  attend  church  in  the  old 
log  meeting  house,  which  stood  at  the  west  end  of  the  late  stone  church, 
and  not  a  spark  of  fire,  much  less  fire-place  or  stove  in  the  house.  My  sire 
stood  up  manfully  to  the  work,  with  surtout  buttoned  to  the  chin,  preaching 
to  a  full  house,  and  not  a  shiver  or  a  shake  among  the  entire  congregation, 
though  the  mercury  was  near  zero  at  the  time.  Now,  not  all  the  language 
or  eloquence  in  the  world  could  say  more,  or  half  as  much  in  favor  of  a 
christian  people,  as  that  single  meeting  of  those  sturdy,  gospel-loving  de- 
scendants of  Scotch-Irish  blood. 

My  father's  brother  John,  who  accompanied  him  to  the  army,  was  pois- 
oned by  eating  bread  prepared  by  some  Jersey  tories  ;  and  it  was  a  mere  act 
of  providence  that  saved  him  from  the  same  fate.  After  arriving  at  the 
wharf  in  Philadelphia  to  take  the  boat  for  Jersey,  he  discovered  that  he 
had  forgotten  something,  ran  back  to  get  it,  and  w,hen  he  returned  the  boat 
had  left,  and  so  escaped  the  poisoned  bread  by  which  his  brother  died." 


REV.   MATTHEW   STEPHENS. 


HE  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  came  to  this  country  an  ordained 
minister.  He  appeared  first  in  Synod,  and  was  received  at  their 
sessions  in  1785.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal. 
He  was  one.  of  the  original  members  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon 
at  the  time  of  its  organization  in  1795,  being  among  those  set  off  from 
the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle.  Before  this  time  he  had  received  a  call, 
through  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  to  the  united  congregations  of 
Derry  and  Wayne  on  the  Juniata,  but  not  being  installed,  returned 
this  call  at  the  second  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  after 
it  was  constituted.  At  the  same  time  he  was  appointed  stated  supply 
of  the  congregation  of  Shaver's  Creek  at  the  request  of  the  people. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  October  4,  1797,  he  was  called  to 
become  the  pastor  of  Shaver's  Creek,  with  the  promise  of  a  salary  of 
upwards  of  £130,  Pennsylvania  currency.  This  call  was  accepted  by 
him,  and  Messrs.  Wiley  and  John  Johnston,  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee of  installation,  and  he  was  accordingly  installed  on  the  3d 
Wednesday  of  June,  1798.  In  April,  1804,  Mr.  S.  was  suspended  from 
the  exercise  of  the  ministry  on  charges  which  are  detailed  in  the  his- 
torical part  of  this  work.  At  the  adjourned  meeting  in  June  follow- 
ing, his  suspension  was  removed  at  the  request  of  many  members  of 
Shaver's  Creek  congregation. 

In  1810  his  pastoral  relation  at  Shaver's  Creek  was,  at  his  own 
request,  dissolved.  On  the  last  month  of  the  year  1824,  Mr.  S.  was 
again  susj:>ended  from  the  exercise  of  his  ministry.  He  died  under 
suspension  the  following  year.  If  Mr.  Stephens'  conduct  as  a  minister 
had  been  equal  to  his  talents  as  a  preacher  he  would  have  been  held 
in  honor  and  his  influence  for  good  would  have  been  very  great.  He 
was  undoubtedly  a  man  of  mind  and  of  learning.  He  was  a  man  of 
great  and  ready  wit,  very  happy  in  repartee,  but  oftentimes  very 
rough.  If  he  had  not  had  more  than  common  power  in  the  pulpit, 
he  never  would  have  been  restored  to  the   ministry  after  his  first 


±28  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

suspension,  by  the  request  of  his  congregation.  No  minister  of  ordi- 
nary talents  could  have  sustained  himself  for  a  year,  under  the  many 
just  grounds  of  complaint  against  him  as  a  man.  Mr.  Stephens, 
among  some  others,  fell  a  victim  to  the  accursed  drinking  habits  of 
those  times.  Naturally  very  impulsive  and  passionate,  he  seemed  to 
lose  all  control  of  himself  under  the  influence  of  liquor.  His  wit 
was  keen,  but  not  always  very  refined.  On  one  occasion  a  young 
man,  and  perhaps  a  minister,  being  particularly  concerned  that  all 
the  brethren  should  be  orthodox  according  to  the  Confession  of  Faith 
and  the  catechisms,  was  advised  by  some  of  the  brethren  that  it 
might  be  well  for  him  to  test  Mr.  Stephens'  orthodoxy.  Accordingly 
he  approached  Mr.  S.  with  this  question,  "  Do  you  believe  that  we  are 
all  by  nature  children  of  wrath  and  heirs  of  hell?"  Mr.  S.  instantly 
replied,  "  0  man,  do  you  believe  it?"  "Certainly  I  do."  "Well  then," 
said  Mr.  S.  "  I  wish  you  much  joy  of  your  inheritance  /" 

On  another  occasion,  he  was  sitting  with  a  friend,  perhaps  the  Kev. 
John  Johnston,  at  his  front  door.  A  gentleman  with  whom  Mr.  S. 
was  acquainted  passed  by,  after  which  he  seemed  to  fall  into  a  brown 
study.  All  at  once  he  exclaimed  aloud,  uIt  won't  do,  It  won't  rfo." 
What  won't  do  ?  inquired  his  friend.  "  Did  you  notice  the  gentleman 
that  passed  here  a  little  while  ago?  Well,  he  is  one  of  the  homeliest 
of  men,  but  God  has  given  him  an  unusual  degree  of  mind,  and  I  was 
just  reasoning  out  the  compensations  of  Divine  providence,  in  giving 
to  one  man  personal  beauty,  but  not  much  intellect ;  and  to  another 
a  great  intellect  but  no  personal  attractions,  rather  the  contrary. 
But  it  won't  do.  There  comes  Sam.  B.  the  homeliest  man  Cod  ever 
made,  and  he  has  not  an  ounce  of  brains." 


REV.   DAVID   BARD. 


ME.  BARD  was  born  in  Leesburg,  Virginia.  He  was  licensed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  probably  in  the  Spring  of  the  year 
1777,  as  he  was  in  the  fall  of  that  year  reported  by  the  Presbytery  to 
Synod  as  a  licentiate.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  held  April 
17,  1778,  he  announced  his  intention  of  taking  a  chaplaincy  in  the 
army,  but  in  June  following  declared  his  change  of  mind.  In  October 
of  1778,  he  received,  through  the  Presbytery,  a  call  to  the  Great  Cove 
in  Virginia,  and  was  ordained  June  16,  1779,  with  a  view  to  this  field, 
as  we  suppose.  He  supplied  this  congregation  for  one  year,  when  he 
received  and  accepted  a  call  to  the  united  congregations  of  Kittock- 
ton  and  Gum  Spring,  also  in  Virginia.  The  salary  promised  was  to  be 
paid,  at  least  in  part,  in  wheat,  rye  and  corn.  In  1782  he  applied  to 
be  released  from  this  charge.  From  the  Spring  of  1782  till  the  Spring 
of  178G,  it  is  not  known  how  he  was  employed,  but  at  the  time  last 
mentioned  he  was  called  to  Bedford,  Pa.,  in  which  charge  he  probably 
continued  till  1789,  as  in  that  year  we  find  him  making  application  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle  to  be  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Tran- 
sylvania, Kentucky.  However  in  June  of  the  next  year  he  returned 
the  certificate  of  dismission,  and  at  the  same  time  accepted  a  call  to 
Frankstown  congregation,  and  was  stated  supply  at  the  same  time  of 
Sinking  Valley,  where  he  resided  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  where 
he  is  buried.  In  1799,  after  serving  the  congregation  of  Frankstown 
for  ten  years,  the  relation  was  dissolved  at  his  own  request,  and  with 
the  reluctant  consent  of  the  congregation,  on  account  of  his  age,  and 
other  circumstances.  The  other  circumstances  referred  to  by  the  con- 
gregation in  giving  their  consent,  were,  probably,  his  serving  in  Con- 
gress as  a  representative  of  the  district  in  which  he  resided.  This  re- 
quired his  presence  in  the  Capitol  for  a  part  of  the  year,  and  of  course 
the  congregation  was  left  vacant  during  that  time,  or  had  to  be  other- 
wise supplied. 


230  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

It  is  probable  his  congressional  career  commenced  about  the  time  of 
his  resignation  of  the  pastoral  charge  of  Frankstown  congregation. 
For  several  years — Dr.  Linn,  in  an  obituary  notice  of  him,  says — "  for 
many  years  he  was  a  Representative  of  the  district  in  which  he 
resided  in  Congress."  He  died  at  Alexandria,  Huntingdon  county, 
Pa.,  on  his  return  home  from  Congress,  March  12,  1815,  at  the  house 
of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Doctor  Buchanan.  Dr.  D.  X.  Junkin  says,  in 
an  historical  sermon  of  the  congregation  of  Frankstown,  that  "he  was 
elected  to  Congress  the  next  year  after  taking  charge  of  the  congrega- 
tion, and  that  he  was  elected  continuously  for  twenty-two  years." 

Mr.  Bard  was  an  anti-federalist,  opposed  to  the  administration  of 
the  elder  Adams;  and  in  this  opposed  in  politics  to  his  Huntingdon 
ministerial  brother,  the  Rev.  John  Johnston.  The  anti-federalists 
were  then  called  Republicans,  and  now  claim  the  name  of  Democrats. 
How  times  and  parties  change !  The  only  two  sons  of  Mr.  Johnston 
now  living  in  this  vicinity  are  decided  Democrats,  while  his  father  was 
nearly  ousted  from  his  cangregation  by  those  now  claiming  the  name 
of  democrat,  because  he  was  a  Federalist.  The  corollary  which  we 
draw  from  all  this  is,  that  clergymen  had  better  not  allow  themselves 
to  become  warm  partizan  politicians. 

No  doubt  Mr.  Bard  mingled  much  in  politics,  and  on  the  popular 
side,  and  was  better  qualified  for  the  position  than  many  others — per- 
haps than  any  other  of  his  party  then  available.  We  confess  to  an 
enduring  prejudice  against  ministers  of  the  Gospel  forsaking  their 
high  calling  for  civil  office,  except  on  extraordinary  occasions.  The 
result  in  most  cases  is,  to  subordinate  the  minister  to  the  politician. 
Mr.  Bard  was  a  very  respectable  gentleman,  and  a  very  acceptable 
minister ;  but  we  agree  with  the  concluding  sentence  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Linn's  obituary  memorial — "  He  embarked  with  considerable  zeal  in 
politics,  and  it  is  to  be  apprehended,  that  being  divided  between  the 
Church  and  the  State,  preaching  the  Gospel  had  not  that  prominence 
in  his  affection  which  it  should  have  had."  One  thing  appears  from 
the  Presbytery's  Records,  that  no  member  of  Presbytery  of  those 
times  was  so  frequently  absent  from  the  meetings  of  Church  Courts. 
Indeed,  at  one  time,  he  and  another  brother  were  cited  before  the 
Presbytery  to  answer  for  frequent  and  continued  absences.  He  satis- 
fied Presbytery  by  the  reasons  which  he  gave,  and  no  doubt,  among 
these  reasons  was  the  necessity  of  attending  the  Sessions  of  Congress. 
Mr.  Bard  was  possessed  of  popular  talents  botli  as  a  preacher  and  a 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  231 

politician,  and  he  did  not  at  any  time  forsake  the.  pulpit  because  of 
his  unacceptableness  as  a  preacher.  Nor  ought  it  to  be  insinuated 
that  he  had  no  heart  to  the  ministry,  for  during  the  recess  of  Congress 
he  was  constantly  engaged  in  the  appropriate  work  of  his  ministry. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  the  stated  supply  of  Sinking  Valley 
church.  He  left  a  family  of  sons  and  daughters.  Some  of  them 
lived  to  a  very  great  age.  Mrs.  Stewart,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Bard, 
was  living  in  Ohio  in  1869  in  the  90th  year  of  her  age.  And  we  have 
of  his  descendants,  grandchildren,  and  great-grandchildren  among  us 
to  this  day ;  and  all  of  them  who  have  come  to  maturity  are  zeal- 
ous members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Bard  was  one  of  the 
original  members  of  the  Presbytery,  though  not  present  at  the  first 
meeting  to  organize. 


KEY.  HUGH  MORRISON. 


MR.  MORRISON  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Huntingdon.  He  was  received  as  a  licentiate  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Ronte,  Ireland,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  April  11, 
1786.  May  15,  1788,  he  was  installed  pastor  of  Buffalo,  Sunbury  and 
Northumberland,  now  within  the  bound  of  the  Presbytery  of  Nor- 
thumberland. During  the  continuance  of  his  pastorate,  in  the  year 
1801,  difficulties  arose  between  Mr.  Morrison  and  a  majority  of  the 
congregation  of  Buffalo,  which  resulted  in  his  pastoral  relation  being 
dissolved  by  the  Presbytery  November  12,  the  same  year.  Of  these 
difficulties  a  sufficiently  particular  account  has  been  given  elsewhere 
in  this  history.  Mr.  Morrison  was  removed  by  death  on  the  15th  of 
September,  1804. 

Very  little  is  known  of  his  character  and  the  estimation  in  which 
he  was  held  as  a  preacher,  even  by  tradition.  The  following  commu- 
nication was  received  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Isaac  Grier  of  Mifflinburg : 

Mifflinburg,  March  18,  1872. 

Dear  Brother: — Yours  came  to  hand  a  few  days  ago,  and  I  delayed 
answering  till  I  could  see  Mr.  Clingan,  now  the  oldest  member  in  my 
church.  His  father  moved  up  here  from  Lancaster  county  in  1800,  one 
year  before  Mr.  Morrison  gave  up  his  charge  here.  He  thinks  he  was  not 
considered  a  very  good  preacher,  but  he  cannot  speak  very  definitely  on 
that  subject.  He  says  his  father  would  not  present  his  certificate  to  unite 
with  the  church  here  till  after  he  gave  up  the  charge.  I  had  not  heard  of 
his  getting  intoxicated  except  at  weddings,  when  it  was  difficult  for  him  to 
keep  in  bounds.  But  Mr.  Clingan  says  he  had  a  set  of  old  cronies  with 
whom  he  would  meet  and  drink.  He  had  two  daughters  who  lived  in  this 
section  for  some  time  after  his  death  ;  one  died  here,  and  the  other  was 
weak-minded  and  unfortunate,  and  is  not. 

In  a  history  I  wrote  of  the  Buffalo  church  I  find  the  following :  The  first 
regular  pastor  of  Buffalo  church  was  Mr.  Morrison,  who  came  to  this  coun- 
try from  Ireland  in  the  Fall  of  1785,  or  early  in  the  year  1786,  a  licentiate 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES   OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  233 

under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Konte.  The  first  mention  of  his  name 
we  find  on  the  Records  of  the  Synod  of  May  18,  1786,  where  it  is  stated — 
<:The  Presbytery  of  Donegal  reported  that  they  had,  since  our  last  meeting, 
admitted  Mr.  Hugh  Morrison,  a  licensed  candidate  from  the  Presbytery 
of  Eonte  in  Ireland,  to  preach  in  their  bounds,  but  his  testimonials  are  not 
here  to  lay  before  the  Synod."  As  that  was  the  meeting  of  the  Synod  that 
divided  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal  into  the  two  Presbyteries  of  Baltimore 
and  Carlisle,  the  next  year  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle  presented  to  Synod 
the  testimonials  of  Mr.  Morrison,  of  which  the  following  is  the  record : 
"The  testimonials  of  Mr.  Hugh  Morrison,  a  probationer  from  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Ronte,  in  the  kingdom  of  Ireland,  were  presented  by  Carlisle 
Presbytery,  and  were  sustained  by  Synod." 

In  May,  1787,  a  call  was  given  to  Mr.  Morrison  by  the  Buffalo  congre- 
gation, in  connection  with  the  congregations  of  Northumberland  and 
Sunbury."  And  in  the  records  of  Synod,  1788,  May  22,  is  the  following 
record:  "Carlisle  Presbytery  reported  that  they  had  since  our  last, 
ordained  to  the  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry,  Mr.  S.  Wilson,  in  the  pasto- 
ral charge  of  Big  Spring ;  and  Mr.  H.  Morrison  in  the  pastoral  charge  of 
Sunbury,  Northumberland  town  and  Buffalo  Valley."  The  call  to  Mr. 
Morrison  is  dated  May  31,  1787,  and  signed  by  17  from  Northumberland- 
8  from  Sunbury,  and  48  from  Buffalo.  The  call  does  not  state  the  amount 
of  salary  except  in  this  language  :  "Further,  we  are  persuaded  that  those 
who  serve  at  the  altar  should  live  by  the  altar,  we  do  promise,  in  order  that 
you  may  as  much  as  possible  be  freed  from  incumbrances,  to  provide  for 
your  comfortable  maintenance  in  the  manner  set  forth  in  our  subscription 
papers  attending  this  call."     The  subscription  of  Buffalo  was  £75. 

Mr.  Morrison  continued  the  pastor  of  these  three  churches  upwards  of 
fourteen  years.  The  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved  November,  1801.  Mr. 
.Morrison  lived  nearly  three  years  after  this,  and  died  at  Sunbury,  Septem- 
ber 15,  1804,  where  I  suppose  he  was  buried.  I  never  heard  of  any  charge 
against  him,  but  that  of  drunkenness. 


REV.   DAVID  WILEY. 


DAYID  WILEY  was  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle, 
so  it  may  be  inferred  that  he  was  of  American  birth.  He  was 
licensed  April  10,  1793,  and  ordained  April  9,  1794,  and  installed  pas- 
tor of  Cedar  Creek  and  Spring  Creek  at  the  same  time.  These  con- 
gregations were  in  Centre  county,  the  first  named  about  three  miles 
south  of  the  present  town  of  Boalsburg,  and  the  other  as  far  north  of 
the  town.  The  name  of  Cedar  Creek  has  become  extinct,  the  congre- 
gation being  merged  in  that  of  Spring  Creek.  After  the  organization 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  he  appears  on  the  minutes  as  the 
pastor  of  Sinking  Creek  in  connection  with  Spring  Creek,  as  the  im- 
mediate successor  of  Rev.  James  Martin,  though  there  is  no  record 
on  the  minutes  of  his  call  to,  or  installation  in  that  congregation,  but 
there  is  a  record  of  his  asking  and  obtaining  a  release  from  that  part 
of  his  charge  October  4,  1797. 

Mr.  Wiley  continued  to  be  the  pastor  of  Sinking  Creek  till  June 
12,  1799,  at  which  time  the  relation  was  dissolved,  much  to  the  regret 
of  the  congregation,  as  appears  from  the  minutes,  though  they  concur- 
red in  his  request,  recognizing  the  necessity,  because  (as  is  supposed) 
of  their  inability  to  support  him  after  his  separation  from  the  other 
part  of  his  charge. 

Mr.  Wiley  could  only  have  been  the  pastor  of  Sinking  Creek  for 
about  one  year.  Mr.  Wiley  continued  a  member  of  the  Presbytery, 
receiving  appointments  and  supplying  vacancies  till  April,  1801,  when 
he  requested  and  obtained  a  dismission  to  the  Presbytery  of  Balti- 
more.    He  had  removed  to  Georgetown  where  he  engaged  in  teaching, 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  235 

in  which  employment  he  continued  till  the  time  of  his  death,  so  far 
as  is  now  known,  or  so  long  as  he  was  capable  of  active  employment. 
The  time  of  his  death  is  unknown.  He  was  one  of  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbytery,  and  is  believed  to  have  been  the  first  stated 
clerk  of  Presbytery.  Though  all  are  dead  who  could  have  given  any 
information  as  to  his  character,  acceptability,  and  success  as  a  minis- 
ter, yet  we  infer,  from  all  the  references  to  him  in  the  minutes  of 
Presbytery,  that  he  was  a  very  efficient  member  of  the  Presbytery, 
and  a  useful  and  generally  acceptable  preacher.  One  thing  is  certain, 
that  he  was  a  man  of  unblemished  reputation,  and  much  esteemed  as 
a  member  of  the  Presbytery. 


REV.   ISAAC  GRIER. 


APPLYING  to  the  Rev.  Isaac  (trier,  D.  D.,  of  Miminburg,  for 
some  facts  concerning  the  life  of  his  father,  the  Rev.  Isaac 
Grier,  Sr.,  the  following  letter  was  received,  containing  a  sketch  of 
the  life  of  his  father.     It  is  dated  January  10,  1872: 

Dear  Friend  : — Your  letter  came  to  me  just  about  the  time  I  received 
a  letter  to  go  to  "VVilkesbarre  to  the  funeral  of  my  sister,  and  being  absent 
from  home  all  last  week  is  mjT  excuse  for  not  answering  your  letter  sooner. 
Some  years  since  our  Presbytery  got  an  obituary  book,  and  I  was  appointed 
to  write  my  father's  obituary.  It  was  recoided  in  that  book  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Mr.  Simonton,  S.  C,  and  the  original  sent  to  the  Presbyterian  His- 
torical Society,  but  I  can  give  you  all  that  you  may  need. 

The  Rev.  Isaac  Grier  was  one  of  the  eleven  members  that  constituted 
the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  April,  1795,  and  one  of  the  five  who  consti- 
tuted the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland  at  its  organization  in  October, 
1811  ;  and  was  the  first  member  of  the  Presbytery  that  departed  this  life, 
having  died  August  23,  1814.  His  parents'  names  were  Thomas  and  Mar- 
tha, Scotch-Irish  emigrants.  Three  brothers  had  emigrated  to  this  country  ; 
two  settled  in  the  Carolinas,  and  Thomas  in  Franklin  county,  Pa.  His  son 
Isaac  was  born  in  1763.  He  passed  his  preparatory  course  in  the  classical 
school  of  James  Ross,  who  was  then  a  celebrated  teacher  in  Chambersburg. 
He  was  graduated  in  Dickinson  College,  Carlisle,  in  1788 ;  received  under 
the  care  of  the  Presbytery,  Carlisle,  April  15,  1790,  having  studied  divinity 
for  the  greater  part  of  two  years  previously  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Charles  Nesbit.  He  was  one  of  those  who  formed  the  Belles-lettres 
Society  in  Dickinson  College,  and  one  of  the  first  class  of  theological  stu- 
dents under  Dr.  Nesbit,  which  was  composed  of  four  members  ;  the  others 
were  Dr.  Spear,  Mr.  Snowden  and  Mr.  John  Bbyson. 

He  was  licensed  December  21,  1791,  and  appointed  a  missionary  to  sup- 
ply, during  the  Winter  and  Spring,  the  churches  of  Harrisburg,  Paxton, 
Upper  and  Middle  Tuscarora,  Bedford,  Great  Cove,  &c,  and  was  as  far 
west  as  Pittsburg,  preaching  several  times  in  that  place. 

In  the  Spring  of  1792  he  was  appointed  to  missionate  on  the  West  and 


BIOGKAl'HICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  237 

North  East  branches  of  the  Susquehanna,  and  on  through  the  State  of  New 
York.  He  commenced  at  Sunbury  and  Northumberland,  June,  1772,  and 
passed  on  to  Milton,  Warrior  Kun,  Derry,  Muncy,  Williamsport,  Pine 
Creek,  Great  Island,  and  up  the  Bald  Eagle  as  far  as  where  Jacksonville 
now  stands.  Thence  he  returned  to  the  North  Branch,  passing  along  it 
up  to  New  York  State  to  Cooperstown,  and  from  that  to  Albany  and  to 
Lake  Champlain,  visiting  several  places  on  the  lake. 

June  19,  1793,  a  call  was  put  into  his  hands  from  the  united  congrega- 
tions of  Lycoming,  Pine  Creek,  and  Great  Island,  which  he  held  under  con- 
sideration, and  on  the  2d  of  October  of  the  same  year  a  call  was  put  into  his 
hands  from  the  united  congregations  of  Pitt  Township  and  Ebenezer ;  on 
the  same  day  he  declared  his  acceptance  of  the  former.  He  was  ordained 
on  the  9th  of  April,  1794,  at  Carlisle;  Mr.  Paxton  preached  the  sermon, 
Mr.  Craighead  presided  and  gave  the  charge ;  and  at  the  same  time  he 
was  installed  pastor  of  the  congregations  of  Lycoming,  Pine  Creek,  and 
Great  Island,  commissioners  from  the  congregations  being  present. 

He  was  married  June,  1793,  to  Elizabeth,  second  daughter  of  Eev.  Dr. 
Robert  Cooper,  pastor  of  Middle  Spring,  Cumberland  county,  Pa.  He 
removed  to  Lycoming  countj*,  near  to  Jersey  Shore,  in  the  Spring  of  1794; 
and  in  1802,  owing  to  his  small  salary,  took  charge  also  of  a  classical 
school.  He  received  a  call  to  the  united  churches  of  Sunbury  and  Nor- 
thumberland, and  removed  to  Northumberland  in  the  Spring  of  1806,  and 
in  addition  to  his  pastoral  charge,  and  supplying  Shamokin  church  once 
a  month,  he  took  charge  of  the  academy,  or  college  as  it  was  then  called, 
in  Northumberland.  Under  the  unceasing  labors  of  pastor  and  teacher, 
his  health  in  a  few  years  gave  way,  and  he  died  of  dyspepsia,  August  23, 
1814. 

In  a  brief  sketch  of  his  life  by  Dr.  Sprague,  he  says  :  "  As  a  teacher  of 
the  Latin  and  Greek  languages,  he  is  said  to  have  had  no  superior  in  Penn- 
sylvania." He  had  seven  sons  and  five  daughters;  three  sons  and  two 
daughters  are  dead.  Yours,  in  the  Gospel, 

ISAAC  GRIER. 

To  this  sketch  we  will  only  add,  that  the  late  Hon.  Robert  C.  Grier, 
one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  was  a 
son  of  the  Rev.  Isaac  Grier,  St.,  and  probably  the  oldest  of  his  sons. 
Dr.  Isaac  Grier,  the  writer  of  the  above  sketch,  is  the  beloved  pastor 
of  the  Buffalo  church,  Union  county,  Pa.  There  is  another  son  liv- 
ing in  Danville,  Pennsylvania,  a  lawyer  of  eminence,  and  an  elder  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  of  that  place. 


KEV.  JOHN  BKYSON. 


THE  following  sketch  of  the  life  of  the  Rev.  John  Bryson  was 
received  from  the  Rev.  John  P.  Hudson,  a  son-in-law  of  Mr. 
Bryson.  There  is  nothing  to  be  detracted  from  it,  and  nothing  to  be 
added  to  it.  There  need  be  no  allowance  made  for  the  relationship  of 
the  writer  to  his  subject : 

Williamsport,  January  29,  1872. 

Dear  Brother  Gibson: — In  reply  to  yours  of  the  18th  instant  I  shall 
endeavor  to  state  such  facts  concerning  the  life  and  labors  of  the  Rev.  John 
Bryson  as  have  come  to  my  knowledge. 

The  Rev.  John  Bryson  was  one  of  the  five  members  that  constituted  the 
Presbytery  of  Northumberland  at  its  organization  in  October,  1811. 

His  parents  were  Robert  Bryson  from  the  North  of  Ireland,  and  Hes- 
ter Quigley  of  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania.  Their  sons  were 
James,  John,  "William  and  Samuel.  His  father  died  when  the  eldest  son, 
James,  was  only  eight  years  of  age.  His  mother,  a  woman  of  ardent  piety 
and  indomitable  energy,  was  thus  left  in  charge  of  a  helpless  family,  and  a 
rearing  a  pious  family  and  amply  providing  for  their  temporal  wants, 
farm  of  500  acres,  but  partially  improved,  and  was  eminently  successful  in 
John  the  second  son,  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  a  child  of  many 
prayers,  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  month  of 
January,  1758.  Prom  a  pious  and  widowed  mother,  under  God,  he 
received  his  earliest  religious  instructions  and  impressions,  and  that  mother 
lived  to  see  her  son  a  devoted  minister  of  the  Gospel. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  was  draughted  as  a  militia  man  in  the 
Revolutionary  service,  under  General  Potter.  His  term  of  service  was 
about  six  months.  After  this  he  applied  himself  diligently  to  a  course  of 
study  in  preparation  for  the  Gospel  ministry.  From  childhood  he  had  been 
of  a  thoughtful  turn  of  mind ;  but  the  precise  time  when  he  first  indulged  a 
hope  in  Christ,  whether  just  before,  or  immediately  after  his  tour  of  mili- 
tary service,  is  not  known  by  surviving  friends.  He  informed  me  that  one 
of  the  strongest  impressions  on  his  mind  after  his  conversion  was  "  Woe  is 
unto  me,  if  I  preach  not  the  Gospel."  Mr.  Bryson's  classical  studies  were 
pursued,  for  the  most  part,  in  Orange  county,  Virginia,  under  the  tuition  of 
Dr.  Waddell,  known  as  the  "blind  preacher,"  so  highly  extolled  by  Mr. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES   OF   DECEASED    MEMBERS.  239 

Wirt  in  his  British  Spy,  and  who  was  father-in-law  to  the  late  Dr. 
Archbald  Alexander  of  Princeton  Seminary.  After  finishing  the 
course  taught  in  Dr.  Waddell's  school  he  took  charge  of  the  school  and 
taught  it  successfully  for  two  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  entered 
Dickinson  College,  Carlisle,  then  recently  organized  under  the  presidency 
of  Dr.  Nesbit.  He  was  a  member  of  the  first  class  formed,  and  graduated 
in  that  venerable  institution,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Belles- 
lettres  Society  in  that  college.     His  diploma  is  dated  September  26,  1787. 

Perhaps  the  following  account  of  the  first  commencement  in  Dickinson 
College  may  be  interesting  to  you.  I  take  it  from  Kline's  " Carlisle  Ga- 
zette and  Western  Repository  of  Knowledge,"  the  first  newspaper  published 
in  Cumberland  county,  and  the  furthest  west  in  the  States.  The  number 
from  which  I  take  the  extract  is  dated  October  3,  1787: 

"  On  Wednesday,  the  26th  ultimo,  was  held  the  first  commencement  for 
degrees  in  Dickinson  College.  The  trustees  having  obtained  leave  to  use 
the  Presbyterian  church  on  this  occasion,  the  exercises  with  which  a 
crowded  assembly  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  were  very  agreeably  entertained, 
were  exhibited  in  that  large  and  elegant  building.  At  10  o'clock  in  the 
morning  the  trustees,  professors,  and  several  classes  of  the  students,  pro- 
ceeded in  order  from  the  college  to  the  church.  When  all  had  taken  the 
places  assigned  them,  the  president  introduced  the  business  of  the  day  with 
prayer. 

The  following  orations  were  then  pronounced : 

'  A  salutatory  in  Latin,  on  the  advantages  of  learning,  particularly  by  a 
public  education,  by  Mr.  John  Bryson.' 

'An  oration  on  the  excellency  of  Moral  Science,  by  Mr.  John  Boyse.' 

'  An  oration  on  the  importance  and  advantages  of  Concord,  especially  at 
the  present  crisis  of  the  United  States  of  America,  by  Mr.  David 
McKeehan.' 

'  An  oration  on  Taste,  by  Mr.  Isaiah  Blair.' 

'  An  oration  on  the  advantages  of  an  accurate  acquaintance  with  the 
Latin  and  Greek  classics,  by  Mr.  Jonathan  Walker.' 

After  an  intermission  of  two  hours  the  following  exercises  took  place : 

'  An  oration  on  the  nature  of  Civil  Liberty,  and  the  Evil  of  Slavery  and 
Despotic  power,  by  Mr.  Steele.Semple.' 

'  An  oration  on  the  Pleasure  and  Advantages  of  the  study  of  History,  by 
Mr.  David  Watts." 

'  An  oration  on  the  various  and  wonderful  powers  and  faculties  of  the 
human  mind,  by  Mr.  James  Gettings.' 

'  Valedictory,  by  Kobert  Duncan.' 

The  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  was  then  conferred,  by  the  principal,  on 
the  following  young  gentlemen,  viz :  John  Bryson,  John  Boyse,  David 
McKeehan,  Isaiah  Blair,  Jonathan  Walker,  Steele  Semple, 
David  Watts,  James  Gettings  and  Kobert  Duncan.  "» 


240  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

After  giving  a  synopsis  of  the  Baccalaurate  address,  by  Dr.  Nesbit,  the 
newspaper  account  closes  as  follows  : 

"  The  young  gentlemen  performed  all  these  exercises  with  a  probity  and 
spirit  which  did  them  great  honor,  reflected  much  credit  on  their  teachers, 
and  gave  ground  to  hope  that  the  sons  of  Dickinson  College  will  at  least 
equal  in  useful  learning  and  shining  talents  those  of  any  other  seminary. 

Under  whose  direction  the  theological  studies  of  Mr.  Bryson  were  con- 
ducted, we  are  uncertain.  My  impression  is,  from  conversations  with 
Father  Bryson  during  his  life  time,  that  he  pursued  his  theological  course 
under  the  direction  of  Dr.  King,  of  Mercersburg,  Franklin  county,  and 
Dr.  Cooper,  of  Middle  Spring,  Cumberland  county.  But  it  is  stated  in  a 
memoir  of  the  Kev.  Isaac  Grier,  written  by  his  son,  the  Kev.  Isaac 
Grier,  D.  D.,  that  he  studied  with  Dr.  Nesbit,  in  a  theological  class  com- 
posed of  four  members,  viz :  Messrs.  John  Bryson,  Isaac  Grier,  Snow- 
den  and  Dr.  Spear. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle  in  the 
year  1789,  the  same  year  in  which  our  General  Assembly  was  organized. 
After  he  had  been  employed  as  a  missionary  by  appointment  of  Presbytery 
for  a  few  months,  during  which  he  labored  in  Martinsburg,  Virginia,  and 
in  the  region  round  about,  he  visited,  by  invitation,  the  congregations  of 
Warrior  Run  and  Chillisquaque.  From  them  he  received  a  unanimous 
call,  signed  by  one  hundred  heads  of  families,  dated  November  3,  1790,  and 
was  soon  after  ordained  and  installed  as  their  pastor.  He  was  ordained 
and  installed  June,  1791. 

September  7,  1790,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Jane  Montgomery,  daughter 
of  Mr.  John  Montgomery,  Sr.,  of  Paradise,  Northumberland  county,  and 
settled  on  and  improved  the  farm  known  as  the  Long  Square,  one  mile 
from  "Warrior  Run  church.  This  charge  he  did  not  fully  resign  until  the 
Autumn  of  1841,  after  a  ministry  of  fifty-two  years.  Soon  after  his  settle- 
ment, on  the  application  of  the  Presbyterian  population  of  the  town  of 
Danville,  and  with  the  approbation  of  the  people  of  his  charge,  he 
preached  every  third  or  fourth  Sabbath  in  that  town  without  pecuniary 
compensation.  But  his  congregations  becoming  dissatisfied,  after  a  few 
months,  he  withdrew  and  gave  the  whole  of  his  time  to  his  two  churches. 
The  kindness  of  Mr.  Bryson 's  congregations  in  granting  the  people  of 
Danville,  for  a  time,  a  part  of  their  pastor's  services,  was  followed  with 
happy  results.  They  were  strengthened  and  prepared  for  settling  a  minis- 
ter, and  through  the  influence  and  exertions  of  Mr.  Bryson,  the  amiable 
and  venerable  John  B.  Paterson  was  called  by  them,  and  long  and  suc- 
cessfully served  as  pastor  of  the  Mahoning  church  in  Danville. 

As  the  boundaries  of  the  congregations  of  Warrior  Run  and  Chillisqua- 
que met  or  overlapped  each  other  at  Milton,  Mr.  Bryson  as  soon  or  soon 
after  he  ceased  preaching  at  Danville,  made  Milton  one  of  the  outposts 
where  he  statedly  preached  on  the  afternoon  or  evening,  at  first  of  every 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  241 

fourth  Sabbath,  and  afterwards  of  each  alternate  Sabbath.  After  preach- 
ing twice  at  Chillisquaque,  his  custom  was  to  go  to  Milton  and  hold  a  third 
service,  thus  accommodating  those  members  of  his  congregations  who  were 
not  able  to  go  to  their  respective  places  of  worship  in  the  morning.  Mr. 
Bryson  continued  to  preach  statedly  at  Milton  to  December,  1811,  when, 
from  the  increase  of  the  population  of  the  place,  it  became  necessary  to 
organize  a  congregation  there,  he  retired  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Hood,  who  afterwards  became  pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Milton. 

Through  the  grace  of  our  Lord,  Father  Bryson  was  a  laborious  and 
zealous  minister  of  the  glorious  Gospel  of  the  blessed  God.  Being  the  only 
minister  of  our  Church,  during  many  years,  in  the  forks  of  the  Susque- 
hanna, he  preached  often,  on  week  days,  on  Fishing  Creek  and  at  different 
points  in  what  is  now  Columbia  county,  also  at  Pennsboro'  (now  Muncy), 
and  different  places  on  the  West  Branch.  Under  his  long  and  faithful 
ministry  of  the  Word,  his  regular  annual  family  visitations,  catechising 
the  children  and  youth,  attending  prayer  meeting,  &c,  his  charge  was  favor- 
ed repeatedly  with  times  of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  and 
grew  and  prospered.  He  was  eminently  a  man  of  prayer,  serving  the  Lord 
with  all  humility  of  mind.  He  was  a  mighty  textuary.  His  sermons  are 
replete  with  opposite  quotations  from  the  sacred  scriptures,  and  he  was 
habitually  ready  to  quote  largely  and  accurately  from  the  Divine  Word. 
One  might  almost  have  supposed  that  he  had  the  whole  Bible  committed 
to  memory.  (Within  the  territorial  boundaries  of  the  original  charge  of 
Father  Bryson  are  now  the  churches  of  Muncy,  Warrior  Run,  McEwens- 
ville,  Milton,  Chillisquaque  and  Mooresburg. ) 

With  a  spirit  chastened  by  manifold  afflictions,  Mr.  Bryson  was  pecu- 
liarly fitted  to  pour  the  oil  of  consolation  into  the  wounded  and  contrite 
heart.  In  private  life,  the  graces  of  the  christian  character  shown  with  de- 
lightful lustre.  An  affectionate  husband,  a  tender  parent,  a  kind  and 
benevolent  neighbor,  his  ear  was  ever  open  to  the  cry  of  distress,  and  his 
hand  ready  to  relieve  the  wants  of  the  necessitous,  with  exemplary  liberal- 
ity. At  length,  as  the  gracious  Master  was  leading  his  aged  disciple  to  the 
last  experience  on  earth,  the  venerable  minister  essayed  to  gird  up  the  loins 
of  his  mind,  and  gave,  among  others,  the  following  testimony  written  down 
by  me  immediately  after  its  utterance : 

"  In  closing  my  earthly  pilgrimage,  I  leave  the  world  under  a  firm  con- 
viction that  the  doctrines  of  grace,  as  set  forth  in  the  standards  of  our 
church,  and  which  as  God  has  given  me  grace,  I  have  endeavored  to 
preach,  are  the  pure  doctrines  of  the  Gospel;  and  in  full  and  steadfast 
belief  of  their  truth,  especially  of  that  great  and  cheering  truth  they 
prominently  set  forth  of  the  imputation  of  a  Saviour's  righteousness  receiv- 
ed by  faith  alone,  I  enter  the  world  of  spirits  and  confidently  commit  my 
spirit  to  my  merciful  Redeemer  and  Judge,  trusting  that  his  righteousness 
is  mine  through  faith,  which  is  by  the  operation  of  his  Spirit." 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  third  day  of  August,  1855,  at  his  residence 
in    Northumberland  county,  the   spirit  of  Father  Bryson  returned  unto 


242  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

God  who  gave  it.  In  the  month  of  the  previous  January  he  had  entered 
on  the  ninety-eighth  year  of  his  life,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  the  oldest 
minister  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the  United  States.  During  some 
days  previous  to  his  decease  his  sufferings  were  considerable ;  but  as  his 
dissolution  drew  near,  those  sufferings  ceased,  he  passed  away  without  a 
struggle  and  without  a  groan. 

It  was  on  the  morning  of  the  holy  Sabbath,  that  most  of  the  families  of 
Warrior  Run,  Chillisquaque,  McEwensville,  and  other  congregations,  filled 
the  house  and  gathered  around  the  home  in  which  the  beloved  old  minister 
had  so  long  sojourned.  And  then  in  long  rnd  quiet  procession,  they  went 
to  the  church  in  McEwensville,  there  to  hear  a  funeral  discourse  delivered 
by  Rev.  James  Clarke,  D.  D.,  (then  pastor  of  Lewisburg,)  from  Psalms 
16  :  15:  "  Precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  is  the  death  of  his  saints."  The 
body  was  laid  in  the  congregational  cemetery  near  the  village,  and  the  soul 
of  Father  Bryson  is,  we  trust,  with  the  Good  Shepherd  who  gave  his  life 
for  the  sheep. 

Of  the  seven  children  of  Father  Bryson,  four  survived  him.  Two  died 
in  early  childhood.  In  1832  his  youngest  son,  Robert,  a  graduate  of  Dick- 
inson College  and  Princeton  Theological  Seminary,  died  at  the  early  age  of 
24  years,  after  faithfully  preaching  the  Gospel  for  eighteen  months,  and 
about  two  weeks  subsequent  to  his  ordination. 

I  cannot  give  the  precise  dates  and  places  of  Father  Bryson's  licensure 
and  ordination  and  installation,  or  at  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Huntingdon  and  Northumberland,  both  of  which  he  was  an  original  mem- 
ber. By  writing  to  the  Rev.  Andrew  D.  Mitchell,  Harrisburg,  who 
has,  in  his  possession  all  the  records  of  the  Carlisle  Presbytery,  and  by  ref- 
erence to  the  early  records  of  Huntingdon  Presbytery,  you  can  ascertain 
these  facts  if  you  deem  it  necessary. 

With  kindest  regards  to  you  and  yours, 

Yours  in  Church  bonds, 

JOHN  P.  HUDSON. 


REV.   JOHN  BOYD  PATTERSON. 


REV.  JNO.  BOYD  PATTERSON  was  of  Scotch-Irish  decent.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  the  North  of  Ireland,  and  his  mother  was 
a  Scotch  woman.  Immediately  after  marriage  they  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  of  America,  some  time  prior  to  active  hostilities  be- 
tween the  mother  country  and  the  American  Colonies.  Mr.  Patter- 
son took  part,  as  a  common  soldier,  in  the  Revolutionary  struggle, 
and  was  engaged  in  some  important  battles  in  defence  of  his  adopted 
country. 

He  was  a  stone-mason  by  trade,  which  occupation  he  followed  in 
early  life  until,  by  the  blessing  of  God  on  his  honest  industry  and 
economy,  he  was  enabled  to  procure  a  farm  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
on  which  he  lived  to  an  advanced  age,  respected  as  a  man  of  sound 
integrity,  a  consistent  christian  and  an  efficient  ruling  elder  in  the 
Middle  Octorara  church.  He  died  in  1825,  aged  82  years.  His  wife, 
who  was  a  true  helpmete,  survived  his  husband  only  one  week. 

Their  family  consisted  of  two  sons  and  five  daughters,  who  all  lived 
and  died  in  the  faith  and  hope  of  the  glorious  Gospel,  in  which  they 
had  been  trained  by  the  precepts  and  example  of  their  pious  parents. 

John  B.  Patterson  was  next  to  the  youngest  of  the  family,  and  was 
born  A.  D.  1773.  Of  his  youth  and  early  religious  experience  there 
is  now  no  means  of  obtaining  accurate  information.  It  would  seem 
to  be  a  legitimate  conclusion,  that  by  the  blessing  of  a  covenant- 
keeping  God  on  the  instruction,  example  and  prayers  of  these  faithful 
parents,  early  piety  had  been  secured  to  their  offspring. 

J.  B.  Patterson  pursued  his  Academical  studies  under  the  direction 
of  Rev.  N.  W.  Sam  pel,  at  Strasburg,  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  and  was 
employed  as  assistant  teacher  in  the  Strasburg  Academy.-  At  this 
time  some  young  men  were  inducted  into  the  ministry  without  going 
farther  than  Strasburg  for  their  literary  and  theological  education. 
But  the  importance  of  thorough   education  in  the  ministry  was  so 


244  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES   OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

deeply  impressed  on  the  mind  of  Mr.  Patterson  that  he  refused  to 
join  them,  and  resolved  to  produce  a  diploma  from  some  regular  col- 
lege or  university,  as  the  Constitution  of  the  Church  requires.  Pecu- 
niary difficulties  lay  in  the  way  of  a  collegiate  course.  But  rather 
than  fail  in  this  important  qualification  in  the  ministry,  he  proposed 
to  earn  the  necessary  means  by  his  own  manual  labor.  But  when  it 
was  seen  that  his  purpose  was  fixed  the  means  were  provided,  and  he 
entered  the  University  of  Philadelphia  in  1793,  and  graduated  A.  B. 
1795.  After  graduating  he  served  some  time  in  the  capacity  of  tutor 
in  the  University.  He  was  an  accurate  scholar  in  the  Latin  and  Greek 
languages,  and  has  left  evidence  of  his  having  paid  very  considerable 
attention  to  the  various  branches  of  science,  composing  the  college 
curriculum  of  those  days. 

He  studied  theology  under  the  superintendence  of  Rev.  N.  W.  Sam- 
pel,  at  Strasburg,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Castle  in  1797.  Immediately  after  license  he  was  employed  by 
the  General  Assembly  as  a  Missionary,  and  was  sent  to  supply  some 
vacancies  in  the  State  of  Maryland. 

He  afterwards  went  as  missionary  through  the  northeastern  part  of 
Pennsylvania  and  into  the  State  of  New  York,  and  on  what  was  then 
called  the  Genesee  country.  On  his  return  he  passed  through  Nor- 
thumberland county,  Pa.,  and  lodged  at  the  house  of  Rev.  John  Bry- 
son,  in  Warrior  Run.  Mr.  Bryson  informed  him  of  the  congregations 
of  Derry  and  Mahoning  (or  Danville),  where  churches  had  been  lately 
organized,  and  advised  him  to  visit  them,  which  he  did ;  and  in  the 
Fall  of  1798  he  received  a  unanimous  call  to  become  the  pastor  of 
these  united  congregations.  He  accepted  the  above  call,  and  in  1799 
he  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  these  congregations  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Huntingdon. 

In  1802  he  was  united  in  matrimony  with  Miss  Rebecca  Boyd,  who, 
being  a  woman  of  active  mind,  ardent  piety,  and  great  decision  of 
character,  proved  to  be  a  useful  helpmete  to  him  in  his  sacred  voca- 
tion. He  had  four  sons  and  five  daughters,  who  grew  up  to  adult  age. 
And  although  his  salary  never  exceeded  $400  per  annum,  and  that 
not  promptly  paid,  yet  he  managed  to  give  three  of  his  sons  a  liberal 
or  collegiate  education,  and  to  assist  them  in  the  pursuit  of  their 
professional  studies ;  and  besides  all  this,  he  left  property  sufficient 
to  make  comfortable  homes  for  the  other  children. 

Mr.  Patterson  labored  peacefully,  with  acceptance  and  with  a  good 
degree  of  success  in  the  congregations  of  Derry  and  Mahoning,  till 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OP    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  245 

the  year  1831,  when  the  pastoral  relation  between  him  and  the  con- 
gregation of  Mahoning  was,  at  his  request,  dissolved ;  that  congrega- 
tion having  become  able  and  desirous  to  have  the  whole  of  a  pastor's 
services. 

From  this  time  his  ministerial  labors  were  chiefly  confined  to  the 
congregations  of  Derry  and  Washingtonville,  a  village  in  the  vicinity 
of  which  he  resided,  and  where  a  church  had  been  organized. 

He  lived  in  those  days  when  ordination  and  installation  were  re- 
garded as  sacred  Divine  institutions,  and  when  the  formation  of  the 
pastoral  relation  between  minister  and  congregation  resembled  that 
unicon  of  which  it  is  written,  "What  God  hath  joined  together  let  no 
man  put  asunder."  He  was  the  regularly  installed  pastor  of  the 
Derry  congregation  for  forty-four  years ;  and  he  resided  in  the  same 
place  during  his  whole  ministerial  life. 

Mr.  Patterson  was  one  of  those  old-fashioned  divines  who  delivered 
their  sermons  memoriter.  He  was  in  the  habit  of  writing  out  his  dis- 
courses in  full  and  committing  them  to  memory,  and  although  he 
always  carried  his  manuscript  to  church  in  his  pocket,  he  was  never 
known  to  make  use  of  it  in  the  pulpit.  His  chirography  was  unfor- 
tunately so  nearly  hieroglyphical  as  to  render  it  illegible,  so  that 
while  he  left  bundles  of  written  sermons,  no  one  has  been  able  to 
read  them.  It  is  not  known  that  any  of  his  sermons  have  been 
printed. 

He  was,  from  conviction,  an  Old  School  Presbyterian.  He  adopted 
the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith,  Form  of  Government,  and  Book 
of  Discipline,  without  any  mental  reservation.  In  receiving  the  pub- 
lic symbols  of  our  church  he  made  no  exception  to  any  article  in 
them.  He  was  once  invited  to  marry  a  couple,  and  when  he  arrived 
at  the  house  and  ascertained  that  the  bride  was  sister  to  the  groom's 
former  wife  he  left  straightway,  refusing  to  solemnize  the  contract, 
which,  according  to  his  creed,  was  unlawful. 

He  was  conscientiously  observant  of  punctuality  in  the  fulfilment 
of  all  his  engagements.  Neither  heat  or  cold,  wet  or  dry,  was  made  an 
apology  for  non-attendance  when  he  had  made  an  appointment  or 
had  a  ministerial  duty  to  discharge.  And  his  place  was  seldom  vacant 
in  the  Courts  of  the  Church  when  it  was  his  duty  or  privilege  to 
attend. 

By  his  assiduous  and  serious  attention  to  the  business  of  Church 
courts  he  acquired  a  character  for  sobriety,  justice  and  moderation, 
which  enabled  him   to  exert  a  good  and  salutary  influence  on  the 


246  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  DECEASED  MEMBERS. 

action  of  those  bodies.  He  was  regarded  as  a  pacificator  among  his 
brethren  in  times  of  excitement  and  diversity  of  views  or  feelings. 
And  some  times  when,  for  prudential  motives  he  was  "slow'to  speak," 
his  views  were  called  for  by  the  members  of  Presbytery ;  and  long 
since  his  voice  has  ceased  to  be  heard, '  his  sentiments  have  been 
quoted  as  authority  on  various  subjects. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  estimation  in  which  lie  was  held  by  his 
brethren,  he  was  chosen  Moderator  of  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia  at 
its  sessions  held  in  Harrisburg  in  1817. 

His  chosen  mode  of  traveling  was  on  horse-back.  He  kept  a  good 
hackney,  whose  only  use  was  to  carry  him  in  the  performance  of  his 
pastoral  duties,  and  in  his  longer  journeys  in  attending  the  meetings 
of  Presbytery  and  the  Synod.  By  the  same  mode  of  conveyance  he 
went  to  Philadelphia — 130  miles — to  attend  meetings  of  the  General 
Assembly,  to  which  he  was  frequently  a  delegate  in  the  early  part  of 
his  ministry. 

In  his  common  intercourse  with  society  he  was  free  and  familiar — 
but  always  maintained  the  dignity  of  a  christian  minister.  While 
fond  of  innocent  mirth  and  hearty  good  cheer,  he  always  discounte- 
nanced improper  levity  and  frowned  on  any  thing  mean,  immoral  or 
unchristian,  in  either  word  or  deed. 

He  endeavored,  as  much  as  in  him  lay,  to  "  live  peaceably  with  all 
men,"  and  taught,  by  both  precept  and  example,  that  it  is  better  to 
"suffer  loss  than  to  go  to  law."  A  little  incident  will  illustrate :  Mr. 
Patterson  resided  on  a  farm  and  his  neighbor  W.  Gr.  on  an  adjoining 
farm,  was  a  careless,  indolent  and  vicious  man,  whose  chief  protection 
to  his  crops  was  a  pack  of  dogs.  Mr.  P.  was  careful  to  keep  a  good 
fence  on  the  line  between  their  farms.  But  on  a  certain  occasion  Mr. 
P.'s  cattle  broke  over  on  his  neighbor's  ground,  and  the  dogs  were  set 
on  them  and  killed  a  valuable  ox.  W.  G.  expected  a  visit  by  a  civil 
officer  as  a  matter  of  course.  But  Mr.  P.  overlooked  the  whole  affair, 
showed  no  signs  of  displeasure  or  resentment,  and  made  no  demand 
for  restitution  for  his  loss.  This  treatment  of  the  case  so  operated  on 
the  mind  of  his  neighbor  that  he  gave  orders  that  the  dogs  should 
never  be  set  on  Mr.  Patterson's  cattle  again. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  an  obituary  notice  published  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland,  shortly  after  his  decease : 

"  Though  he  would  have  heen  the  last  of  men  either  to  give  or  sanction 
flattery  of  the  living  or  the  dead ;  yet  the  Preshytery  feel  that  it  is  only  a 
proper  tribute  to  his  memory  to  say  that  he  was  a  man  of  good  talents  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES   OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  247 

acquirements,  a  sound  and  pious  preacher,  a  judicious  counsellor,  cautious 
in  forming  intimacies,  but  firm  in  his  friendship,  almost  proverbially  pru- 
dent, mild  in  manners,  and  one  who  scarcely  ever,  if  at  all,  had  an  enemy. 

"  Natural  diffidence  and  modesty  drew  a  veil  over  his  talents  and  caused 
him  to  shun  public  notice;  and  while  they  brightened  his  private  character, 
seemed  rather  to  have  repressed  his  mental  energies  and  prevented  him  from 
occupying  a  more  conspicuous  place  in  the  church  than  he  ever  reached. 

"  Few  christians  lived  outwardly  more  consistently  than  he  did.  Not 
long  before  his  death  he  said  to  a  brother,  that  he  had  been  reviewing  his 
course  as  a  preacher,  and  if  he  had  his  life  to  live  over  he  did  not  see  that 
he  should  alter  it  in  the  least.  We  can  all  testify  that  he  preached  Christ 
and  him  crucified  fully,  plainly,  affectionately  and  faithfully." 

He  was  severely  afflicted  (with  gravel)  during  the  last  few  years  of 
his  life.  Yet  he  continued  to  preach  regularly  till  the  Sabbath  pre- 
vious to  his  death.  His  death  was  somewhat  sudden.  Being  in  his 
usual  health  he  was  suddenly  called  to  endure  extreme  pain.  Al- 
though by  surgical  assistance  he  obtained  relief,  he  was  so  exhausted 
as  to  be  unable  to  resuscitate.  His  last  moments  were  calm  and 
peaceful — his  body  free  from  pain,  and  his  mind  clear  and  unclouded. 
When  the  time  of  his  departure  was  at  hand  he  said,  "  I  have  been 
long  looking  to  the  event  and  I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I  am  a  sinner 
saved  by  grace."  And  after  giving  some  directions  to  his  family  in 
relation  to  their  future  course,  he  closed  his  eyes  and  departed  in 
peace.  He  died  May  8,  1843,  in  the  seventy-first  year  of  his  age.  He 
was  buried  in  the  grave-yard  at  the  Mahoning  Church,  Danville. 

As  a  token  of  affectionate  remembrance  the  congregations  of  Derry 
and  Mahoning  erected  a  suitable  monument  over  his  grave. 


Note. — This  sketch  of  the  life  of  the  venerated  John  B.  Patterson  was  written  by  his  son, 
the  Rev.  Matthew  B.  Patterson,  of  Freeport,  111.,  and  forwarded  to  me,  accompanied  with  the 
following  note  : 

Freeport,  February  8, 1872. 
DejiR  Bro. — I  have  endeavored  to  comply  with  your  request  in  furnishing  you  a  sketch  of  my 
father's  life  and  death.     I  hope  it  will  serve  the  purpose  you  have  in  view.     You  are  at  liberty 
to  make  what  use  of  my  notice  that  you  may  think  proper. 

Yours,  truly,  M.  B.  PATTERSON. 


REV.   ASA  DUNHAM. 


I  AM  indebted  to  the  courtesy  of  the  Rev.  W.  Simontox,  S.  C.  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Northumberland,  for  the  following  sketch  of  the 
life  of  Mr.  Dunham,  transcribed  from  the  Obituary  Book  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Northumberland : 

"  The  Rev.  Asa  Dunham  was  the  son  of  Nehemiah  Dunham,  who 
was  descended  from  the  Puritans,  and  was  a  man  of  ardent  piety,  sterling 
integrity,  and  great  independence  of  character.  Asa  was  born  in  Piscat- 
taway,  Middlesex  county,  New  Jersey,  and  at  an  early  age  removed,  with 
his  father,  to  Kingwood,  Hunterdon  county,  N.  J.  At  what  time  he 
became  hopefully  pious  is  not  now  known.  His  preparatory  studies  for  the 
ministry  were  commenced  late  in  life. 

"  He  pursued  his  classical  and  theological  course  in  New  Brunswick,  New 
Jersey,  and  was  licensed  and  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Bruns- 
wick. His  first  pastoral  charge  was  the  united  churches  of  Oxford,  N.  J., 
and  Upper  Mt.  Bethel,  Pa.  At  what  time  he  settled  in  these  churches, 
and  removed  from  them,  cannot  now  he  ascertained.  He  removed  from 
Oxford  and  Mt.  Bethel  to  Hemlock  township,  Columbia  county,  Pa.,  and 
preached  at  Briar  Creek  and  Catawissa.  For  a  number  of  years  prior  to 
his  death  he  was  without  a  pastoral  charge. 

"  He  was  zealously  interested  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton, 
and  spent  several  years  as  an  agent  in  collecting  funds  for  the  endowment 
of  that  institutson.  He  was  also  deeply  interested  in  the  missionary  opera- 
tions of  the  church. 

"During  his  settlement  over  his  last  pastoral  charge  his  dwelling  was 
destroyed  by  fire,  and  every  member  of  his  family,  to  wit :  his  wife,  mother 
and  two  daughters,  perished  in  the  flames.  He  died  on  his  farm  in  Hem- 
lock township,  Columbia  county,  Pa.,  in  the  autumn  of  1825,  in  the  73d 
year  of  his  age.  Mr.  Dunham  had  five  wives,  (srparatim  et  seriatim,)  the 
last  of  whom  survived  him  some  years.'' 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES   OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  249 

As  to  his  character  as  a  preacher,  another  writes :  "  He  was  not  con- 
sidered a  good  sermonizer,  but  an  excellent  exhorter." 

Mr.  Dunham  was  first  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon 
from  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  April  10,  1798,  and  the  next 
day  was  appointed  to  represent  the  Presbytery  in  the  General  Assem- 
bly, in  connection  with  the  Rev.  John  Johnson.  At  the  division  of 
the  Presbytery  in  1811,  he  fell  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Northumberland. 

Attendance  upon  the  meetings  of  the  General  Assembly,  in  those 
times,  was  no  pleasure  trip ;  as  it  implied  long  and  fatiguing  rides  on 
horse-back,  over  rough  roads. 


REV.   ALEXANDER     M'lLWAINE. 


THE  Eev.  A.  McIlwaine  came  from  Ireland  to  this  country  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  year  1797,  or  the  beginning  of  the  next  year. 
He  was  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Letterkehny,  "in  the  King- 
dom of  Ireland."  He  made  application  to  be  received  under  the  care 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  at  its  stated  Spring  meeting  in 
1798,  but  not  having  the  collatefial  testimony  which  the  Synod 
required,  besides  the  formal  and  usual  testimonials  always  required, 
he  was  not  at  that  time  received,  but  permitted  to  labor  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Presbytery  till  the  next  meeting.  At  an  adjourned 
meeting  held  in  January,  1799,  the  way  being  clear,  he  was  received 
as  a  candidate  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery.  On  the  2d  of 
October  of  the  same  year  he  received  and  accepted  calls  from  Upper 
Tuscarora  and  Little  Aughwick  congregations.  He  was  ordained  and 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  before  named  congregations,  on  the  5th  day 
of  November  following.  Mr.  McIlwaine  appears  to  have  been  a  man 
of  feeble  constitution.  He  only  lived  to  labor  for  a  few  years  in  these 
congregations.  He  died  on  the  6th  of  March,  1807.  He  died  of  con- 
sumption. All  reports  concerning  his  character  as  a  man,  and  as  a 
minister,  are  very  favorable  from  those  who  had  opportunity  of 
knowing. 


REV.   WILLIAM  A.   BOYD. 


THE  Rev.  W.  A.  Boyd  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  county,  Pa.  He 
graduated  at  Dickinson  College  in  the  year  1809.  Was  licensed 
to  preach  the  Gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle.  He  received 
calls  from  the  united  congregations  of  Spruce  Creek  and  Sinking 
Valley,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1816,  which  he  accepted,  and 
was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  said  congregations  April  2,  1817. 
In  the  Fall  of  1821,  he  resigned  his  charge  on  account  of  ill  health. 

He  died  of  consumption  on  the  11th  of  May,  1823. 
« 
The  late  venerable  Dr.  Linn  of  Bellefonte,  who  was  co-temporary 

with  him,  but  lived  long  afterwards,  thus  speaks  of  him  in  an  obituary 

notice  :     "  He  was  a  young  man  of  good  mind,  and  fine  taste.     His 

sermons  were  prepared  with  much  care,  and  combined  in  a  short 

compass  a  great  deal  of  good  matter.     He  was  highly  esteemed  in  his 

congregations,  and  was  a  good  member  of  Presbytery." 


REV.  JOHN  COULTER. 


THE  Rev.  John  Coulter  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  He  came  to  this 
country  while  young.  He  studied  Theology  under  the  direction 
of  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Sample  of  New  Castle  Presbytery,  and  received 
licensure  from  that  Presbytery.  He  was  dismissed  as  a  licentiate  to 
the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  in  1801,  having  received 
calls  from  the  united  congregations  of  Lower  and  Middle  Tuscarora, 
over  which  he  was  ordained  and  installed  August  11,  1801. 

He  continued  to  be  the  pastor  of  those  churches  till  his  death, 
which  took  place  June  22,  1834. 

The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Linn  gives  the  following  summary  of  his  character 
as  a  minister  and  a  presbyter. 

"  He  was  a  good  and  faithful  pastor,  industrious  in  the  performance  of 
his  duty,  reproving  and  exhorting  publicly  and  privately,  with  all  the 
kindness  of  a  true  friend,  and  as  one  who  was  to  give  an  account  of  his 
stewardship.  He  was  very  regular  and  punctual  in  attending  to  the 
judicatories  of  the  church.  He  was  very  seldom  absent  from  meetings  of 
Presbytery,  or  of  Synod,  and  often  represented  the  Presbytery  in  the 
General  Assembly.  He  was  well  acquainted  with  the  business  of  church 
courts,  and  was  a  good  and  prudent  counsellor.  In  any  difficult  cases  he 
was  always  looked  up  to  for  his  opinion  and  advice,  which  were  always 
considered  sound  and  good.  In  his  removal,  the  Presbytery  lost  one  who 
was  deservedly  accounted  a  father  amongst  them." 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  after  the  decease  of  Mr. 
Coulter,  the  following  minute  was  adopted  : 

"  The  Presbytery  record  with  unfeigned  sensibility,  though  Avith  humble 
acquiescence,  the  recent  afflictive  dispensation  of  Divine  Providence  in  the 
removal  by  death  of  the  Rev.  John  Coulter,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
efficient  of  our  members.     While  we  mourn  his  removal  from  his  earthly 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DHCEASED    MEMBERS.  253 

sphere  of  most  exemplary  activity  and  usefulness,  we  would  faithfully 
cherish  in  our  memory  his  many  virtues,  especially  his  uncommon  punctu- 
ality, and  his  prudence  as  a  member  of  our  ecclesiastical  judicatories,  and 
entertain  the  pleasing  hope  that  he  now  rests  from  his  labors,  and  his  works 
do  follow  him  to  the  sanctuary  above." 

Mr.  Coulter  was  the  stated  clerk  of  Presbytery  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  and  had  held  this  office  from  1811.  He  left  a  family  of  sons 
and  daughters.  We  have  no  particular  knowledge  of  any  of  them, 
except  one  son,  who  studied  for  the  ministry,  graduated  at  Jefferson 
College,  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  October  4,  1833,  and  died  in  a 
few  weeks  after  his  licensure,  and  a  few  months  before  his  father. 


REV.  JOHN  HUTCHESON. 


OBITUARY  published  in  the  Presbyterian  of  November  23,  1844, 
signed  M.  written,  it  is  supposed,  by  a  brother  who  was  well 
informed  of  the  facts  pertaining  to  the  life  and  death  of  the  de- 
ceased : 

He  was  born  on  the  17th  of  December,  A.  D.,  1775,  in  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  was  brought  up  on  a  farm  with  his  father,  until  of  suffi- 
cient strength  to  attend  a  grist  and  saw  mill,  which  he  did  until  near 
twenty  years  of  age.  He  then  spent  three  years  in  learning  the 
languages,  occasionally  teaching  school  to  procure  necessary  means. 
He  entered  Dickinson  College,  Carlisle,  and  graduated  at  that  seat  of 
learning  in  1802,  under  the  celebrated  Charles  Nisbet,  D.  D.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  in  the  Fall  of  1804,  and  received  a  call  from 
the  congregation  of  MifHintown  and  Lost  Creek,  in  the  Summer  of 
1805,  where  he  continued  to  labor  until  the  commencement  of  his 
last  illness,  a  period,  a  little  exceeding  thirty-nine  years.  He  was 
attacked  in  January,  1837,  with  an  alarming  hemorrhage  of  the  lungs, 
which  prevented  his  preaching  for  six  weeks,  after  which  he  continued 
till  the  8th  of  October,  1844,  when  he  had  a  return  of  the  hemorrhage, 
and  after  repeated  and  profuse  bleeding  from  the  lungs,  his  life  was 
terminated  by  the  extreme  prostration,  at  half  past  six  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  11th  of  November. 

The  life  of  our  excellent  friend  was  checkered  with  repeated  afflic. 
tions,  by  which  he  was  bereaved  of  ten  children  and  two  companions, 
the  latter  of  whom  he  survived  about  twenty  months,  leaving  behind 
but  one  son  to  represent  the  household  and  the  family  name.  Our 
acquaintance  with  the  venerable  pair  justifies  us  in  saying,  "  They 
were  lovely  in  life,  and  (except  in  point  of  time)  in  death  they  were 
not  divided.'1  But  though  so  often  bereaved,  our  friend  never  sank 
into  any  gloom.     His  faith  seemed  to  pass  through  every  cloud  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES   OF   DECEASED    MEMBERS.  255 

adversity,  to  a  serene  sky,  and  his  hope  served  him  as  an  anchor  in 
every  tempest.  His  expressive  countenance  however  sobered  and 
moderately  overcast  with  the  becoming  emotions  of  sorrow,  anon 
brightened  with  the  play  of  the  sunbeam  of  satisfaction,  and  easily 
relaxed  into  smiles  of  good-nature,  and  joy  was  diffused  again  over  his 
features.  He  was  favored  to  enjoy  a  happy  temperament,  which 
rendered  him  an  agreeable  companion  wherever  he  went.  Of  his  own 
family  circle  he  was  the  life.  His  was  a  cheerful  hearth,  and  "joy  and 
gladness  with  the  voice  of  thanksgiving,"  were  there.  His  mornings 
and  noons,  and  evenings,  were  a  constant  succession  of  scenes  and 
sayings,  adapted  to  inspire  contentment  and  pleasure,  good  feeling, 
and  often  mirthful  joy,  in  all  who  were  under  his  roof.  And  there 
from  time  to  time  were  many  of  all  ages  who  loved  his  company  as  he 
did  theirs.  His  Godliness  indeed  verified'  the  promise,  both  of  this 
life  and  that  which  was  to  come.  His  was  not  a  gloomy  religion. 
There  were  some  traits  of  primitive  simplicity  in  his  habits  worthy  of 
imitation.  Very  remote  from  all  ostentation,  he  still  knew  what  was 
due  to  his  station,  and  he  aspired  to  nothing  in  outward  circum- 
stances but  what  comported  with  his  calling,  and  is  expressed  in 
Agur's  prayer — and  he  observed  the  golden  mean.  His  home,  his 
table,  his  apparel,  his  person,  his  household  economy,  his  travelling 
equipage,  were  all  expressive  of  the  neatness,  and  the  order,  and 
native  sense  of  propriety,  which  characterized  him,  and  without  any- 
thing antiquated,  he  was  a  gentleman  of  the  olden  time.  His  scholar- 
ship was  very  respectable,  and  his  familiarity  with  the  Greek  and 
Latin  languages  was  not  allowed  to  rust.  He  was  well  known  as  a 
Theologian  in  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  and  a  firm  defender  of 
the  faith  as  set  forth  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Reformation  ;  and  on  his 
death-bed  it  gave  no  small  satisfaction  to  remember  what  he  had  held 
and  preached,  as  he  several  times  intimated — thus  giving  his  last  and 
dying  testimony  to  the  Calvinistic  sentiments,  which  he  uniformly 
exhibited  in  the  course  of  his  life  and  labors.  He  was  a  very  punctual 
attendant  on  the  courts  of  the  church,  while  health  permitted,  when, 
with  a  mixture  of  dignity  and  pleasantry,  he  was  always  ready  to  bear 
his  full  part  and  just  responsibility.  He  was  willing  to  bear  reproach 
rather  than  shrink  from  duty,  and  while  he  could  show  courtesy  to 
his  brethren  who  differed  from  him,  he  was  firm  and  unwavering  in 
the  assertion  and  maintenance  of  what  he  deemed  right.  His  life 
was  one  of  much  activity,  and  he  labored  till  his  Master  bade  him  rest 


256  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

from  his  labors,  and  his  closing  discourse  was  remarked  as  peculiar, 
beyond  his  usual  efforts,  and  an  impressive  valedictory.  It  was  on  2d 
Peter,  1st  Chapter,  5-7  verses. 

His  habits  were  industrious.  His  early  rising  was  the  secret,  per- 
haps of  his  longevity,  for  his  frame  was  not  athletic.  In  travelling 
past  the  town  at  daylight,  or  a  little  after,  we  have  found  him  with 
his  axe  at  his  accustomed  exercise.  His  usefulness  to  the  rising 
generation  was  considerable,  as  a  classical  teacher,  for  many,  per- 
haps twenty  years. 

But  we  draw  our  notice  to  a  close  by  a  brief  sketch  of  his  pastorial 
labors  and  of  the  final  scene  :  His  pastoral  charge,  formerly  held  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Brown,  of  Canonsburg,  was  assumed  soon  after  the 
resignation  of  Dr.  Brown,  and  was  never  changed  for  another.  On 
a  slender  support,  which,  with  skillful  management,  was  made  to 
suffice,  he  continued  to  labor  for  nearly  forty  years,  honored  and 
beloved  by  his  people.  He  witnessed  their  gradual  growth  in  num- 
bers and  in  grace  ;  and  a  second  or  third  generation  occupies  the 
room  first  filled  by  the  generations  by-gone.  Instead  of  the  fathers 
are  the  sons  ;  instead  of  the  mothers,  the  daughters ;  and,  verifying 
the  saying  of  Johnston,  our  friend  was  living  already  as  it  were,  with 
posterity.  Two  neat  and  spacious  edifices  he  lived  to  see  erected  for 
the  accommodation  of  his  flock,  and  well  filled,  alternately,  with  re- 
spectful and  attentive  hearers  of  the  word,  many,  if  not  all  of  whom 
he  has  left  well  instructed,  rooted  and  grounded  in  the  faith,  and 
doers  as  well  as  hearers  of  the  same  ;  whom  with  fervent  prayer,  in 
his  last  hours,  he  commended  to  the  great  and  Chief  Shepherd,  that 
they  might  be  kept  united,  and  might  meet  him  in  glory,  to  the 
praise  of  the  Redeemer.  And  now  that  we  are  arrived  at  the  place 
described  by  Young,  so  beautifully,  as  the  "chamber  where  the  good 
man  meets  his  fate  :" 

"Privileged  beyond  the  common  walks  of  life, 
Quite  on  the  verge  of  Heaven" — 

we  shall  let  him  speak  for  himself.  While  blood  was  spouting  at  in- 
tervals from  his  lungs,  he  betrayed  no  alarm ;  and  when  an  interval 
occurred  to  speak,  he  said  he  felt  happy.  For  his  kind  and  unwea- 
ried attendants  he  prayed,  and  manifested  great  satisfaction  in  their 
services;  was  patient,  but  desirous  of  an  early  and  easy  departure. 
On  inquiring  the  hour  on  Sabbath  last,  and  being  told  it,  he  said, 
"Why  am  I  kept  here  so  long?"  and  he  prayed,  "Come   Lord   Jesus, 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  25/ 

come  quickly," — and  then  said,  "perhaps  I  am  impatient,"  and 
prayed  to  be  forgiven.  At  some  time,  he  remarked  that  he  was  clear 
and  peaceful,  had  no  doubts  or  fears,  was  established  on  the  Rock  of 
Ages,  had  no  raptures  as  some  had,  but  he  expected  God  would  give 
him  a  foretaste  of  the  joys  of  Heaven  before  his  departure  ;  and  after- 
wards he  did  experience  some  rapturous  enjoyment.  Finally  he  fell 
into  a  slumber  and  never  woke.  "Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold 
the  upright ;  for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace.'"  On  Wednesday,  the 
13th  of  November,  and  after  the  interment,  a  discourse  was  delivered 
from  2d  Timothy,  4:6-8  verses  ;  and  the  religious  services  of  the  occa- 
sion were  shared  by  ministers  of  our  own  and  of  the  Associate  Re- 
formed and  Lutheran  denominations — not  without  much  tenderness 
and  emotions  which  almost  impeded  utterance. 


REV.  WILLIAM  STUART. 


HE  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  in  a  small  village  near  London- 
derry, in  the  county  of  Donegal,  on  the  18th  of  July,  1759. 
He  emigrated  to  America  early  in  life,  and  first  settled  in  the  State 
of  Delaware,  where  he  acted  for  some  years  in  the  capacity  of  a 
teacher. 

Having  his  attention  turned  to  the  gospel  ministry  he  passed 
through  a  preparatory  course  of  study  at  the  Newark  Academy,  and 
entered  Dickinson  College,  Carlisle,  then  under  the  presidency  of  Dr. 
Nisbit.     Here  he  was  graduated  in  the  year  1795. 

Leaving  college  he  prosecuted  his  theological  course,  privately, 
under  the  direction  of  Rev.  John  McCrery,  and  was  licensed  by  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  A.  D.,  1797.  For  several  years  he  acted  as 
an  itinerant  in  the  bounds  of  his  Presbytery — when  he  came  into 
the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  preaching  as  a  can- 
didate. 

Visiting  the  congregation  of  East  Penns  Valley,  Sinking  Creek  and 
Spring  Creek,  he  received  a  call  to  become  their  pastor.  Mr.  Stuart 
accepted  the  call,  and  was  ordained  to  the  gospel  ministry,  and  in- 
stalled pastor  of  these  churches  by  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon, 
October  6,  1801. 

In  these  relations  he  continued  faithfully  and  punctually  to  per- 
form his  duties  until  April,  1804,  when  he  gave  up  the  charge  of  East 
Penns  Valley  congregation,  and  divided  his  labors  equally  between 
the  Sinking  and  Spring  Creek  churches.  These  churches  he  served 
for  thirty-three  years,  until  the  autumn  of  1834,  when  he  was  provi- 
dentially laid  aside  by  the  fracture  of  a  limb,  (caused  by  the  kick  of 
a  horse,)  in  returning  from  preaching  on  Sabbath.  In  consequence  of 
this  he   was    compelled   to   resign  his  charge,  having   sustained   the 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  259 

relation  of  pastor  until  lie  had  entered  his  seventy-sixth  year.  He 
continued  to  reside  in  the  bounds  of  his  former  charge  during 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  beloved  by  those  to  whom  he  had 
so  long  ministered.  When  able,  he  participated  with  them  in  re- 
ligious ordinances  and  exercises,  but  for  some  years  before  his  death, 
the  infirmaties  of  age  and  his  want  of  hearing,  placed  these  privileges 
beyond  his  reach.  Shut  out  from  much  satisfactory  communion  with 
others,  he  spent  much  of  his  time  in  communion  with  his  God.  He 
devoted  his  leisure  hours  to  reading,  meditation  and  prayer,  and  in  such 
exercises  found  his  chief  enjoyment.  He  fed  upon  the  precious  truth 
of  God,  which  he  had  so  long  ministered  to  others,  and  with  which  he 
had  become  so  familiar. 

His  general  health  through  life  was  good,  though  he  had  by  no 
means  an  iron  constitution.  He  was  seldom  sick  for  any  length  of 
time,  and  his  last  sickness  was  of  short  duration.  Ten  days  previous 
to  his  death  he  was  attacked  with  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  which 
rapidly  brought  him  to  the  close  of  his  earthly  career.  He  was  sen- 
sible throughout  his  illness,  and  spoke  of  his  departure  with  compo- 
sure and  calm  confidence  in  Christ.  "  I  know,"  said  he  to  the  writer, 
"  in  whom  I  have  believed.  'The  Lord  is  my  Shepherd,  I  shall  not 
want.'  'Though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death. 
I  will  fear  no  evil.'  " 

His  strength  declined  daily  until  the  morning  of  March  30,  1848, 
when  he  calmly  "  fell  asleep,"  having  reached  the  eighty -ninth  year 
of  his  age.  He  left  an  aged  partner  (who  only  survived  him  about 
two  months,)  and  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter,  to  mourn  his 
departure. 

Mr.  Stuart  was  an  instructive  preacher.  His  discourses  were  care- 
fully prepared.  He  wrote  and  memorized  all  his  public  exercises. 
He  did  nothing  extemporaneously.  His  sermons,  his  sacramental 
exercises,  and  his  prayers  were  all  committed.  He  was  punctual  in 
the  discharge  of  duty.  In  the  whole  course  of  his  ministry  he  never 
failed  in  fulfilling  his  Sabbath  appointments,  save  in  two  instances, 
in  which  it  was  not  possible  to  do  it.  In  one  instance,  he  swam  his 
horse  across  a  stream  that  lay  between  him  and  his  church,  in  order 
not  to  disappoint  his  flock. 

He  was  for  years  the  oldest  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Hunting- 
don, and  one  of  the  patriarchs  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 


260  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  DECEASED  MEMBERS. 

He  lived  to  baptize,  to  receive  into  communion,  and  to  marry 
children  and  children's  children  among  the  people  of  his  charge. 

"  Having  served  his  own  generation  by  the  will  of  God,"  "  he  died 
in  a  good  old  age — -an  old  man  and  full  of  years.'' 

Mr.  Stuart  was  buried  in  the  grave  yard  of  the  Sinking  Creek 
church;  and  a  sermon  adapted  to  the  occasion  was  preached  in  the 
church,  by  the  pastor,  on  Sabbath,  April  9,  following,  from  Zaeha- 
riah,  1:5 — "Your  fathers,  where  are  they?  and  the  prophets,  do  they 
live  forever  ?" 


Note. — The  foregoing  sketch  of  the  life  of  Father  Stuart  was  prepared  by  Rev.  Robert 
IIamil.  D.  P.,  a  successor  of  Mr.  Stuart,  and  read  before  the  Presbytery,  and  entered  in  the 
Obituary  Book  of  the  Presbytery.  Dr.  Hamil  is  still  the  pastor  of  Spring  and  Sinking  Creek 
churches. 


REV.   THOMAS  HOOD. 


DIED  at  his  residence  in  Lewisburg,  Penn'a,  on  Friday,  the  17th  of 
March,  1848,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Hood,  in  the  sixty-seventh  year  of 
his  age. 

The  deceased  was  born  in  Chester  county  in  July,  1781.  His 
parents  were  James  and  Jane  Hood.  At  the  early  age  of  seventeen 
he  was  graduated  with  honor  to  himself  in  Dickinson  College,  which 
was  then  under  the  care  of  the  venerable  Dr.  Nisbet.  Soon  after 
completing  his  collegiate  course,  he  entered  on  the  study  of  Theology 
under  the  supervision  of  the  Rev.  Nathan  Crier  of  Brandy  wine.  In 
]  S02  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Cospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Castle,  and  in  1805  he  was  installed  pastor  over  the  congregations  of 
Buffalo  and  Washington,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon.  In 
October,  1812,  he  was  installed  pastor  over  the  Milton  Church  one- 
fourth  of  his  time,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland.  It  was 
not  long,  however,  until  this  congregation  required  half  of  his  time. 
In  two  of  these  congregations,  Buffalo  and  Milton,  he  continued  to 
preach  with  fidelity  and  earnestness  until  a  short  time  before  his 
death,  when,  in  consequence  of  declining  health,  he  was  obliged 
almost  entirely  to  desist  from  preaching. 

As  a  preacher  he  was  popular.  His  personal  appearance  in  the 
pulpit  was  commanding,  and  his  talents  and  acquirements  were  highly 
respectable. 

He  was  an  affectionate  husband,  an  indulgent  parent,  a  kind  friend, 
a  consistent  christian,  and  a  useful  minister. 

His  discourses  were  practical  and  persuasive  rather  than  argumen- 
tative. As  a  man,  as  a  christian,  and  as  a  minister,  he  was  exemplary. 
His  modesty  and  natural  diffidence,  which  were  not  unfrequently 
construed  into  haughtiness,  prevented  him  from  occupying  that 
elevated  position  in  the  church  and  in  deliberative  assemblies,  to 
which  his  talents  and  acquirements  fairly  entitled  him.     It  is  true  he 


2()2  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

had  his  faults.  These  however  were  but  few  and  scarcely  percepti- 
ble, while  his  virtues  were  numerous  and  prominent.  Those  who 
knew  him  best  valued  him  most.  When  called  to  give  an  account  of 
his  stewardship  he  was  prepared  -for  the  summons.  He  said  he  relied 
entirely  on  the  merits  of  Christ  for  salvation,  and  that  he  was  per- 
fectly resigned  to  the  will  of  his  Heavenly  Father.  His  end  was 
peaceful ;  it  was  such  as  became  a  christian  and  a  christian  minister. 
He  died  comfortably  to  himself,  honorably  to  the  Saviour,  and  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  recommend  religion  to  those  who  survive.  "  Mark  the 
perfect  man,  and  behold  the  upright,  for  the  end  of  that  man  is 
peace."  "Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  let  my  last 
end  be  like  his."' 

Mr.  Hood  was  married  twice.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Mary  Haz- 
lett,  to  whom  he  was  married  April  16,  1803,  and  by  whom  he  had 
seven  children.  Mrs.  Hood  died  November  10,  1840,  greatly  beloved 
tor  her  humble  and  unobtrusive  piety,  and  many  social  and  domestic 
virtues.  He  was  married  a  second  time  to  Miss  Hannah  McCldre,  a 
lady  of  sterling  worth,  on  the  4th  of  March,  1845.  This  marriage 
contributed  greatly  to  his  comfort  during  his  last  years.  He  was 
eminently  happy  in  his  marriage  relations.  Mrs.  Hood  and  two 
daughters,  by  his  first  wife,  still  survive  to  mourn  his  loss.  His 
remains  now  repose  in  the  cemetery  near  Lewisburg,  in  the  midst  of 
those  who  were  his  hearers,  where  they  will  rest  in  peace  until  the 
morning  of  the  resurrection." 

(Obituary  Book  of  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland,  p,  p.  9-11." 


REV.   JAMES  THOMPSON. 


THE  Rev.  James  Thompson  was  a  native  of  Union  county,  Pa.  He 
studied  Theology  under, the  care  of  Rev.  Thomas  Hood  of  North- 
umberland Presbytery,  and  was  licensed  by  that  Presbytery  in  1817 
or  1818.  February  3,  1819,  he  was  received  as  a  licentiate  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  having  been  called  to  the  pastoral  charge 
of  Shaver's  Creek  and  Alexandria.  On  the  7th  of  April  following 
he  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  these  congregations.  He 
continued  to  be  the  pastor  of  said  congregations  till  the  year  1830,  in 
which  year  he  was  removed  by  death  on  the  8th  of  October.  He  was 
cut  off  by  a  violent  disease,  and  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness  in  his 
congregations. 

The  following  character  is  given  of  him  by  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  J.  Linn 
of  Bellefonte  :  "  He  was  a  vigorous,  active  young  man,  much  esteem- 
ed by  the  people  of  his  charge,  and  accounted  a  good  member  of 
Presbytery."  He  married  Miss  Eliza  Stewart  of  Alexandria,  who 
^ t ill  survives  with  the  children,  one  son  and  two  daughters. 


REV.  JAMES  H.  STUART. 


M 


the  only  son  of  Mr.  James  Stuart,  who  was  long  an  elder  in 
the  3d  Presbyterian  Church  of  that  city — Old  Pine  Street  Church,  so 
distinguished  for  the  eminency  of  its  pastors,  among  whom  was  Rev. 
Dr.  Archibald  Alexander.  In  the  life  of  Dr.  A.  Alexander,  written 
by  his  son,  the  following  mention  is  made  of  Mr.  Stuart,  the  father  of 
Rev.  J.  H.  Stuart. 

"  Among  the  excellent  private  christians  who  were  members  of  this 
Church,  Mr.  James  Stuart  deserves  honorahle  mention.  He  was  a  native 
of  Ireland,  and  long  occupied  the  place  of  ruling  elder.  To  a  natural 
temperament  of  great  ardency,  he  added  evangelical  knowledge  and  a 
remarkable  disposition  to  be  useful.  He  was  gifted  in  prayer,  assiduous 
and  affectionate  among  the  poor  and  suffering,  and  a  valuable  aid  to  his 
pastor.  It  is  but  a  few  years  since  he  died,  full  of  years,  and  venerated  by 
all  who  knew  him." 

This  was  written  1855,  many  years  after  the  death  of  his  son,  the 
subject  of  the  present  notice.  Mr.  J.  H.  Stuart  was  educated  at 
Princeton,  both  as  to  his  literary  and  theological  education.  He  was 
licensed  and  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia. 

Having  preached  in  the  congregations  of  East  and  West  Kishaco- 
quillas and  Little  Valley,  he  received  calls  from  each  of  them. 
From  East  Kishacoquillas  for  two-thirds  of  his  time,  and  from  the 
twolast  mentioned,  each  for  the  other  third  of  his  time.  After  some 
deliberation  he  accepted  the  united  calls  from  East  and  West  Kish- 
acoquillas, and  was  installed  as  their  pastor  on  the  26th  day  of 
October,  1827.  He  continued  but  a  short  time  in  this  connec- 
tion. It  pleased  God  to  afflict  him  with  a  lingering  disease,  by 
which  he  was  disqualified  from  ministerial  labors,  and  under  which 
he  finally  sunk.  He  died  on  the  27th  of  February,  1829,  and  was  in- 
terred in  the  grave-yard  of  East  Kishacoquillas  church.     His  inten- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  265 

tion  was  to  go  to  another  field  of  labor  in  the  West,  but  God  in  his 
providence  directed  him  to  settle  in  the  before  named  congregations. 
His  coming  among  them  was  the  means  of  uniting  them  in  feeling, 
and  healing  some  very  unhappy  divisions  which  had  existed  among 
them.  He  was  a  pleasant,  promising  young  man.  He  was  all  that 
might  have  been  expected  in  the  son  of  such  a  father.  His  brethren 
of  the  Presbytery  esteemed  him  very  highly,  and  would  have  been, 
glad,  had  it  pleased  providence,  that  his  life  had  been  prolonged 
among  them,  that  they  might  have  enjoyed  his  company  and  coun- 
sels in  their  meetings. 

He  married  after  his  settlement  in  East  Kishacoquillas,  Miss  Law. 
whose  father  resided  in  Mifnintown.  She  was  a  lady  of  great  beauty, 
and  of  superior  mental  and  moral  endownments.  She  afterwards 
married  General  Foster  of  Harrisburg,  and  is  still  living;  at  least  we 
have  not  heard  of  her  death.  She  had  one  son  by  her  first  husband, 
who  is  now  dead.     If  we  mistake  not  he  was  lost  at  sea. 


REV.  WILLIAM  REED. 


MR.  REED  was  a  native  of  Mifflin  county,  Pa.  He  was  a  graduate 
of  Jefferson  College ;  and  after  a  course  of  Theological  studies  in 
one  of  our  Seminaries,  he  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Hunting- 
don, in  1832.  He  offered  himself  to  the  Western  Foreign  Missionary 
•Society  as  a  candidateto  labor  in  the  foreign  field.  His  offer  was  ac- 
cepted, and  he  wTas  ordained  in  May,  1833,  with  a  view  to  entering  on 
that  service.  He  received  a  commission  for  India,  and  sailed  shortly 
after.  He  reached  Calcutta  and  continued  sometime  in  study  to 
prepare  himself  for  his  work.  But  his  health  failing  him,  he  was  ad- 
vised to  return  home.  He  set  sail  with  this  view,  but  died  on  the 
passage  shortly  after  he  had  embarked. 

He  was  a  very  pious,  devoted  young  man ;  but  he  had  a  very  feeble 
constitution  which  was  not  sufficient  to  bear  the  hardships  which  the 
foreign  missionary  must  endure.  The  disease,  which  at  last  proved 
fatal  to  him,  had  been  long  preying  on  his  system.  He  fell  a  victim 
to  it  when  he  was  in  sight  of  his  intended  field  of  labor.  He  died  on 
the  12th  of  August,  1834. 


REV.  THOMAS  I.  KEATING. 


HE  was  a  native  of  Huntingdon  county.  Pa.  His  parents  were 
Roman  Catholics.  He  was  in  early  life  bound  out  to  a  mechanic 
in  Bellefonte.  to  learn  a  trade.  He  was  thus  thrown  into  the  society 
of  Protestants  ;  and  there  he  embraced  the  Protestant  Presbyterian 
faith,  more  from  his  own  judgment  than  from  any  direct  influence  on 
him  by  others.  As  he  was  fond  of  reading,  and  being  in  situations  fa- 
vorable to  it,  he  improved  his  mind  very  considerably  on  the  leading 
doctrines  of  the  gospel,  as  well  as  on  other  subjects.  After  some  time 
he  felt  a  very  strong  desire  to  enter  the  ministry,  if  practicable. 
Being  encouraged,  he  then  turned  his  attention  more  particularly  to 
the  study  of  Theology.  During  a  part  of  the  time  he  was  under 
private  instructions,  and  a  part  he  spent  at  the  Western  Theological 
Seminary.  Alleghany  City,  Pa.  He  was  taken  under  the  care  of  Pres- 
bytery as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry,  April,  1834,  and  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  gospel,  April  9,  1835.  He  was  ordained  sine  titulo  in 
1837,  with  a  view  to  perform  missionary  labor  within  the  bounds  of 
the  Presbytery.  But  God  cut  short  his  days.  He  never  preached 
more  than  two  or  three  times  after  his  ordination.  He  died  on  the 
L5th  of  February,  1838,  at  the  house  of  John  Crawford,  Esq.,  near 
Petersburg,  Huntingdon  county,  after  several  weeks  of  severe  suffer- 
ing.    His  remains  lie  in  the  yard  of  the  church  of  Alexandria. 


REV.  FREDERICK  G.  BETTS. 


THIS  brother  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  August  14,  1812.  His  pa- 
rents were  New  Englanders.  From  Philadelphia  they  removed  to 
Pittsburgh,  and  afterwards  to  Meadville ;  in  the  Academy  of  which 
place  Frederick  received  his  classical  education.  In  his  nineteenth 
year  he  engaged  as  clerk  at  an  iron  works  in  Centre  county.  He  con- 
tinued in  the  Iron  business  there  and  in  New  Jersey,  for  above 
six  years. 

In  May,  1838,  he  commenced  the  study  of  Theology  in  Boalsburg, 
under  private  instruction.  In  October  following  he  was  received  by 
Presbytery  as  a  candidate,  and  in  April,  1840,  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  gospel.  In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  he  was  ordained  to  the 
full  work  of  the  ministry,  and  installed  over  several  small  churches 
in  Clearfield  county. 

The  field  of  his  labors  was  extensive  and  difficult  to  cultivate.  He 
toiled  assiduously  at  his  work,  leaving  no  part  of  his  charge  destitute 
of  the  good  seed  of  the  word ;  and  his  success  was  unusually  great. 
In  the  summer  of  1844  his  health  became  so  impared  that  he  was 
obliged  to  cease  from  preaching.  This  was  a  most  painful  Providence. 
He  was  anxious  to  be  restored  to  his  delightful  employment.  Accord- 
ing to  medical  advice,  he  set  out  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  on  a 
journey,  intending  to  pass  the  winter  in  a  milder  climate :  but  de- 
taining awhile  in  Cincinnati,  his  disease  (pulmonary  consumption) 
advanced  so  rapidly,  that  he  was  unable  to  proceed  any  farther. 
Though  among  strangers  he  soon  became  known  to  some  valuable 
Christians,  from  whom  he  received  the  kindest  attentions.  But  his 
end  was  drawing  near.  He  entered  into  his  rest  on  the  17th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1845. 

Mr.  Betts  was  a  good  scholar,  well  acquainted  with  mankind,  and 
an  excellent  preacher.  He  united  mildness  and  firmness  in  a  pre- 
eminent degree.  He  was  easy  of  access,  pleasant,  communicative,  and 
in  every  respect  amiable.  It  was  hardly  possible  to  know  him  and- 
not  love  him.  He  had  married  early,  and  had  been  the  father  of 
six  children ;  three  of  whom,  with  their  mother,  yet  survive. 


REV.  JOHN  LLOYD. 


1 


JOHN  LLOYD  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Catharine  Lloyd.  He 
was  born  at  McConnelstown,  Huntingdon  county,  Pa.,  on  the 
1st  of  October,  1813,  and  was  the  eldest  of  twelve  children,  six  of 
whom  were  sons.  Four  of  his  brothers,  and  three  of  his  sisters  sur- 
vive him.  His  father  was  of  Presbyterian  origin,  but  not  a  commu- 
nicating member.  He  was  a  highly  respectable  citizen,  and  at  one 
time  sheriff  of  the  county.  Some  years  before  his  death,  he  became  a 
regular  member  of  the  Baptist  church.  Mrs.  Lloyd  was  of  a  Sece- 
der  family,  but  united  with  the  Presbyterian  church,  in  which  she 
adorned  her  profession.  The  boyhood  of  John,  till  his  14th  year,  was 
spent  under  the  parental  roof,  where  he  obtained  the  education 
which  our  common  schools  afforded.  From  that  time  till  his  twen- 
tieth year  he  was  engaged  in  business,  mostly  as  a  clerk  in  a  country 
store,  or  at  iron  works.  He  had  always  been  remarked  for  his  so- 
briety, thoughtfulness,  and  fondness  for  reading;  and  his  predilec- 
tion for  knowledge  was  now  to  be  gratified  in  a  more  ample  and  pro- 
ductive field.  About  this  time  he  entered  on  a  course  of  study  at 
Jefferson  College,  first  in  the  preparatory  school,  and  afterwards  in 
the  regular  classes,  and  was  graduated  in  September,  1839,  being  then 
in  the  26th  year  of  his  age.  He  united  in  the  communion  of  the 
church  in  1835.  He  studied  Theology  in  the  Seminary  at  Princeton, 
was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  to  preach  the  Gospel, 
in  April,  1844 ;  and  in  May  of  the  same  year  was  ordained  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  to  the  full  work  of  the  ministry.  On  the 
22d  of  June  he  sailed  from  New  York  as  a  Missionary  to  China,  under 
the  care  of  the  Assembly's  Board,  and  on  the  6th  of  December  In- 
arrived  at  Amoy.  In  this  place  he  spent  four  years  most  laboriously 
in  the  service  of  the  church,  and  on  the  6th  of  December,  1848,  en- 
tered into  rest. 

Mr.  Lloyd  had  from  his  earliest  youth   been  exemplary  in  all   his 
conduct.     As  a  son,  a  brother,  a  neighbor,  a  friend,  all  rejoiced  in  him. 


270  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES   OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

A  person  in  whose  family  he  was  most  intimate,  and  for  whom  he  did 
business  several  years,  said  with  emphasis — "  John  never  did  a  wrong 
thing."  He  was  faithful  to  every  trust  reposed  in  him;  strong  in  his 
attachments ;  zealous  in  the  cause  of  his  Master,  and  anxious  to  do 
good  to  men.     It  was  his  delight  to  be  useful. 

He  was  about  a  medium  size,  of  fair  complexion,  possessed  a  good 
constitution,  enjoyed  excellent  health,  and  appeared  capable  of  long 
service  in  the  missionary  field.  While  at  Amoy  he  suffered  much 
from  ophthalmia,  a  disease  incident  to  the  locality  ;  but  still  he  made 
great  proficiency  in  the  acquisition  of  the  Chinese  language ;  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  was  capable  not  only  of  writing  and  speaking 
it,  but  also  of  preaching  in  that  difficult  tongue  the  glad  tidings  of 
salvation.  Just  at  the  time  when  we  would  say,  he  was  amply  pre- 
pared for  usefulness,  the  Lord  said  that  his  work  was  done,  and  the 
faithful  servant  was  called  home.  The  "  earthly  house  of  this 
tabernacle"  was  then  exchanged  for  "  the  building  of  God — eternal 
in  the  heavens."  Thus  far  this  sketch  was  j:>repared  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
McKinney,  for  the  Obituary  Book  of  the  Presbytery. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Happer  of  the  China  Mission,  in  a  letter  published  in 
the  Presbyterian  Banner  during  the  past  year,  thus  writes  of  a  visit  to 
the  grave  of  Rev.  John  Lloyd,  referring  to  a  visit  to  the  Mission  of 
the  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  he  says :  "  It  gave  me  the  opportunity 
of  visiting  the  grave  of  my  early  friend  and  associate,  the  Rev.  John 
Lloyd,  with  whom  I  went  out  to  China  in  1844.  He  was  permitted  to 
engage  in  the  labors  to  which  he  had  consecrated  the  strength  of  his 
manhood  and  ripened  intellect  for  four  years.  In  that  time  his 
progress  in  the  acquirement  of  the  language  and  in  preaching  in  this 
strange  land,  more  than  reached  the  highest  exj:>ectation  of  his  most 
partial  friends.  His  early  and  lamented  death  removed  one  who  gave 
the  brightest  promise  of  great  usefulness  in  labor  among  this  numer- 
ous people.  We  can  only  say,  "Cod  moves  in  a  mysterious  way,'* 
when  he  takes  away  those  who  are  so  well  prepared  to  labor  where 
Laborers  are  so  greatly  needed.  It  was  a  melancholy  pleasure  to 
visit  the  grave  of  this  dear  friend,  and  there  recall  the  memory  of 
many  days  and  years  of  pleasant  intercourse,  and  think  over  his 
many  excellencies  and  virtues,  and  weep  afresh,  tears  of  sorrow  at 
his  early  removal  from  this  field  of  labor.  May  Cod  raise  up  and 
send  forth  many  more  such  into  this  land." 


REV.  JAMES  T.  M'GINNIS. 


DIED,  August  31,  1851,  at  Shade  Gap,  Huntingdon  county,  Pa.,  the 
Rev.  James  Y.  McGinnis,  in  the  35th  year  of  his  age.  The  de- 
ceased was  a  native  of  Shippensburg,  Pa.;  in  the  Presbyterian  church 
of  which  place  his  revered  father  had  long  been  a  ruling  elder.  His 
college  education  was  obtained  at  Jefferson  College.  While  at  college, 
during  an  extensive  revival  of  religion,  he  became  a  hopeful  subject 
of  saving  grace.  His  theological  training,  preparatory  to  his  entering 
the  ministry,  was  received  under  the  direction  of  the  venerable  Dr. 
Matthews,  of  South  Hanover,  Indiana.  In  the  year  1840  he  entered 
the  ministry;  was  married  to  Miss  Cresswell,  of  Franklin  county,  Pa., 
and  was  settled  pastor  of  the  church  of  Lewistown,  Fulton  county, 
Illinois.  Whilst  here  his  health  became  so  impaired  that  at  the  close 
of  his  third  year  he  resigned  his  pastoral  charge  and  returned  to  his 
native  State — hoping  that  its  pure  mountain  air  would  invigorate 
his  system,  and  thus  be  the  means  of  prolonging  his  life  and  min- 
istry. One  year  after  his  return,  in  October,  1844,  his  health  still 
feeble,  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  church  of  Little  Aughwick,  and 
became  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon.  Here  God 
greatly  prospered  him  in  his  efforts  to  advance  the  cause  of  Christ 
and  the  best  interests  of  men.  The  church  was  built  up,  and  the 
place  in  which  he  resided  has  assumed  an  entirely  different  aspect. 
Literally,  as  well  as  figuratively,  the  wilderness  has  become  a  fruitful 
field  under  his  culture.  The  amount  of  labor  he  performed,  and  the 
amount  of  good  accomplished,  are  matter  of  astonishment  to  all 
acquainted  with  the  facts. 

In  the  autumn  of  1848  he  commenced  Milnwood  Academy.  The 
result  showed  he  was  fully  adequate  to  the  undertaking.  Youth 
flocked  to  him  from  all  directions,  and  building  after  building 
sprang  up  for  their  accommodation.  At  the  time  of  his  decease 
there  was  seventy-four  students  in  the  Institution,  and  an  additional 
building  was  in  the  way  of  erection,  under  the  expectation  of  a  large 


Ill  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES   OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

increase.  Had  his  valuable  life  been  spared  it  is  highly  probable  a 
College  would  have,  ere  long,  been  reared  by  the  side,  or  assumed 
the  place  of  Milnwood  Academy. 

On  the  6th  of  August  he  addressed  the  Literary  societies  of  Jeffer- 
son College  ;  and  on  his  way  home  was  attacked  with  dysentery. 
With  great  difficulty  and  much  prostration,  lie  reached  his  residence. 
Here,  under  the  care  of  a  skillful  physician,  and  an  affectionate 
family,  his  disease  was  checked  ;  but  his  wonted  strength  was  never 
regained.  On  the  Sabbath  before  his  decease  he  preached  greatly 
to  the  delight  and  edification  of  hispeople.  On  Tuesday  he  travel- 
ed several  miles,  and  visited  one  of  his  elders  who  was  in  delicate 
health.  On  Wednesday  he  heard  a  lecture  in  the  Academy,  by  Prof. 
Williams  of  Jefferson  College.  Soon  after  he  was  seized  with  bilious 
cholic,  the  removal  of  which  was  beyond  the  power  of  medicine. 
Two  days  before  his  decease  his  physician  explained  to  him  the 
nature  of  his  disease,  and  announced  to  him  the  impossibility  of  his 
recovery.  The  announcment  was  received  without  dismay.  Imme- 
diately he  set  his  house  in  order,  and  prepared  for  his  departure: 
gave  minute  directions  in  reference  to  his  temporal  affairs — the 
Academy,  the  Church :  sent  for  his  aged  parents,  delivered  to  some, 
and  to  others  left  dying  counsels;  made  known  his  wishes  in  refer- 
ence to  the  final  disposition  of  his  remains — the  ministers  who  should 
deliver  a  funeral  discourse ;  one  at  his  residence,  the  other  at  Ship- 
pensburg,  the  place  of  interment,  etc.  He  would  gladly  have  labored 
longer  in  the  vineyard  below,  but  the  latter  being  clearly  intimated 
as  the  Divine  will,  he  expressed  not  only  a  willingness,  but  a  desire 
to  be  absent  from  the  body  that  he  might  be  present  with  the  Lord. 
Twice  or  thrice  was  the  adversary  permitted  to  assail  him  sore,  but 
the  result  in  every  instance  was  increased  peace  and  joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghost.  "  I  have,"  said  he,  "  read  of  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of 
death,  but  now  I  know  what  it  is  from  experience ;  but  blessed  be 
God,  He  is  with  me,  his  rod  and  staff  comfort  me."  His  sufferings 
at  times  were  very  great,  but  his  confidence  in  his  covenant  God. 
unshaken.  He  knew  in  whom  he  had  believed,  and  was  persuaded 
that  He  was  able  to  keep  that  which  he  had  committed  to  Him  until 
that  day.  The  companion  of  his  youth  and  riper  age,  with  their  five 
interesting  children  survive  him  to  mourn  their  irreparable  loss. 
May  his  God  be  theirs,  and  the  everlasting  arms  be  around  them. 

Eminently  endowed  with  gifts  and  grace,  the  deceased  adorned 
every  station  he  filled. 


REV.  JAMES  GALBBAITH. 


THE  REV.  J.  GALBRAITH  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  in  1783. 
He  was  a  son  of  Robert  Galbraith,  Esq.,  a  lawyer  of  some  dis- 
tinction in  that  city  in  his  day.  His  name  appears  in  the  history 
of  the  Whisky  Insurrection.  The  place  where  his  son  James  received 
his  literary  education  is  believed  to  have  been  Jefferson  College,  Can- 
onsburg.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  and  or- 
dained and  installed  pastor  of  Mahoning  church,  Indiana  county,  but 
within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone.  He  was  probably 
licensed  about  the  year  1808  ;  and  ordained  and  installed  in  1810.  In 
this  charge  he  continued  till  the  beginning  of  the  year  1816.  The 
congregation  of  Frankstown,  (Hollidaysburg,)  being  vacant,  Mr. 
Galbraith  visited  it  by  invitation  in  February,  1816,  and  a  call  was 
presented  to  him  from  said  congregation,  prosecuted  before  the 
Presbytery  of  Redstone ;  and  he  was  received  as  a  member  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  at  its  full  meeting  in  October;  and  was 
installed  pastor  of  the  united  congregations  of  Hollidaysburg  and 
Williamsburg,  (Hollidaysburg  taking  two-thirds  of  his  time,  and 
Williamsburg  one-third,)  Nov.  19,  1816.  He  continued  the  pastor 
of  these  churches  till  the  fall  of  1834,  at  which  time  the  pastoral 
relation  was  dissolved.  After  this  time  Mr.  Galbraith  exercised  his 
ministry  in  various  places,  but  we  do  not  know  that  he  became  a 
settled  pastor  in  any  of  them.  On  removing  from  Hollidaysburg  he 
visited  Nashville,  Ten.,  where  he  supplied  for  some  time  ;  then  in 
Clarion  county,  Pa.,  and  New  Lisbon,  Ohio.  He  died  at  West  Fair- 
field, March  28,  1858,  in  the  seventy-fifth  year  of  his  age. 

Mr.  Galbraith  was  a  man  of  respectable  attainments,  and  a  very 
instructive  preacher.  He  was  a  great  reader,  and  had  a  very  reten- 
tive memory.  He  was  therefore  a  good  historian,  and  his  accurate 
memory  of  facts,  and  dates,  and  incidents,  made  him  a  very  agreeable 
and  instructive  companion. 

He  left  a  family  of  several  sons  and  daughters  all  of  whom  are  now 
dead,  except  the  Rev.  Robert  C.  Galbraith,  of  Flora,  Illinois.  Mrs. 
Galbraith  was  the  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Henderson,  of  the 
Associate  Reformed  Church,  Indiana  county,  Pa. 

35 


"2 


REV.  JAMES  S.   WOODS,  D.  D. 


DR.  WOODS  was  a  native  of  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  where  he 
was  born  on  the  18th  of  April,  1793.  He  received  his  literary 
education  at  Princeton  College,  then  under  the  presidency  of  the 
celebrated  Dr.  Witherspoox  ;  and  his  theological  education  in,  the 
same  place,  at  the  theological  seminary,  of  which  Drs.  Archibald 
Alexander  and  Samuel  Miller  were  then  sole  professors.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick, 
in  October,  1818,  and  received  as  a  licentiate  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Huntingdon,  November  24,  1819,  having  accepted  a  call  from  the  con- 
gregation of  Waynesburg  (McVeytown)  for  one-half  of  his  time,  at  a 
salary  of  four  hundred  dollars.  On  the  5th  of  April,  1820,  he  was 
ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  before-named  congregation.  In 
April,  1823,  he  was  appointed  stated  supply  of  Lewistown,  at  the 
request  of  the  congregation,  in  which  capacity  he  continued  to  serve 
them  for  one  year,  when  he  received  and  accepted  a  call  to  become 
their  permanent  pastor  in  connection  with  Waynesburg,  the  congre- 
gation promising  a  salary  of  three  hundred  dollars  for  one-half  of  his 
time.  He  was  installed  over  this  part  of  his  charge  April  28,  1824,  by 
a  committee  of  the  Presbytery.  Mr.  Woods  continued  to  serve  these 
congregations  acceptably,  till  in  1837,  the  congregation  of  Lewistown 
called  him,  with  the  consent  of  Presbytery,  for  the  whole  of  his  time, 
at  a  salary  of  $600  per  annum.  He  continued  to  serve  this  congrega- 
tion, with  increasing  success,  till  the  time  of  his  death,  which  sad 
event  took  place  suddenly  on  the  29th  of  June,  1862.  He  served  the 
congregation  of  Lewistown,  as  stated  supply  and  pastor,  thirty-nine 
years  and  three  months.  As  the  pastor  of  Lewistown  exclusively, 
thirty  years  and  nine  months.  In  1850  he  was  honored  with  the  title 
of  Doctor  of  Divinity  by  the  college  of  Princeton,  his  Alma  Mater. 
He  was  married  to  a  daughter  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Witherspoon,  by 
whom  he  had  five  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom  survived 
him,  except  the  eldest,  who  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  regular  army,  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  1 1  0 

was  killed  in  one  of  the  battles  fought  during  the  Mexican  war.  The 
next  oldest  son  studied  law,  and  became  judge  of  the  judicial  district 
in  which  he  resided,  and  died  in  the  prime  of  life.  Two  other  sons 
also  studied  law,  and  are  now  in  the  practice  of  their  profession.  The 
youngest  son  became  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  and  is  now  the  accept- 
able pastor  of  the  church  in  Mahanoy  City,  Lehigh  county,  Pa. 

As  a  preacher,  Dr.  Woods  may  not  be  reckoned  among  the  eloquent 
men  of  the  day ;  but  he  was  plain,  substantial  and  instructive.  He 
sought  after  none  of  the  flowers  of  rhetoric,  or  meretricious  orna- 
ments, but  taught  the  way  of  salvation  in  plain  Saxon  English,  so 
that  the  plainest  hearer  might  understand.  He  ventured  on  no  nov- 
elties or  speculations  in  theology ;  but  the  tried  and  proved  doctrines 
of  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith  and  Catechisms,  were  his 
guides  and  helps  in  setting  forth  the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel.  While 
he  was  firm  and  decided  in  his  own  views  of  truth,  he  was  of  enlarged 
charity  with  regard  to  those  who  might  differ  from  him  in  some 
things,  provided  he  saw  in  them  the  evidences  of  sincerity  and  piety. 
As  a  pastor  he  was  faithful,  and  exceedingly  pleasant  in  mingling 
among  the  people  of  his  charge.  And  he  was  successful,  as  success 
ordinarily  attends  the  labors  of  a  faithful  pastor.  In  looking  over  the 
statistics  of  a  series  of  years,  it  will  be  seen  that  there  was  a  gradual 
and  healthy  increase  to  the  church,  and  in  some  years  they  were 
favored  with  special  times  of  revival,  when  unusual  numbers  were 
added  to  the  Lord  and  to  the  church. 

As  a  man  lie  doubtless  had  his  faults  or  infirmities,  but  he  had 
numerous  and  admirable  excellencies  of  character,  which  overshad- 
owed all  his  natural  defects.  He  was  by  nature  impulsive,  and  at  the 
same  time  open  and  undisguised  in  manifestations  of  approbation  or 
disapprobation.  In  the  former  case,  of  course,  he  made  no  enemies: 
but  in  the  latter,  he  may  have  been  sometimes  hasty  and  impru- 
dent, so  far  as  his  own  interests  were  concerned.  But  he  was  no- 
selfish  man,  and  seldom  took  into  consideration  how  far  his  own 
interest  might  be  involved  in  what  he  conceived  to  be  a  matter  of 
duty.  He  hated  everything  that  was  hishonorable  or  mean,  and  if  he 
spoke  his  disapprobation  when  cooler  temperaments  would  have  been 
silent,  who  will  say  that  he  did  not  err  on  the  side  of  virtue?  One 
characteristic  of  this  venerable  man  was  his  generous  and  hospitable 
disposition.  With  the  limited  moans  at  bis  disposal,  as  may  be  well 
inferred  from  the  amount  of  salary  promised  in  his  original  call,  he 
practiced  an  unusual  degree  of  hospitality.     He  was  liberal  and  gener- 


276  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES   OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

ous,  perhaps  to  a  fault.  Without  knowing  what  additions  may  have 
been  made  to  his  means,  from  time  to  time,  by  the  considerate  kind- 
ness of  his  people,  or  what  may  have  been  his  private  resources,  those 
who  knew  him  may  have  been  surprised  that  he  could  practice  hospi- 
tality to  such  an  extent,  and  at  the  same  time  accomplish  the  educa- 
tion of  so  large  a  family.  As  much  as  any  modern  minister,  he  filled 
up  the  character  and  qualifications  of  a  true  Christian  bishop — "  Not 
given  to  filthy  lucre  ;  but  a  lover  of  hospitality,  a  lover  of  good  men,  sober,  just, 
holy,  temperate.'" 

It  only  remains  to  speak  of  him  as  a  Presbyter,  associated  with  his 
brethren  in  the  courts  of  the  Church.  In  Presbytery  he  did  not 
occupy  much  time  in  formal  speeches ;  but  his  judgment  in  intricate 
and  difficult  cases  was  always  sought  for,  and  highly  respected.  One 
thing  his  brethren  were  always  assured  of — he  had  no  secret  or  con- 
cealed object  to  accomplish  in  any  case.  His  purpose,  and  the  means 
to  accomplish  any  object,  were  as  apparent  as  the  noonday  sun. 
There  was  nothing  like  finesse  or  trick  in  all  his  composition.  He 
was  eminent  for  his  conciliatory  disposition ;  and  in  cases  where  men's 
passions  were  likely  to  be  aroused,  it  was  his  habit  "  to  pour  oil  upon 
the  troubled  waters."  It  is  not  known  that  he  had  any  enemies — 
certainly  not  among  his  brethren,  or  good  men  generally. 

As  before  stated,  his  death  was  sudden — no  time  allowed  for  death- 
bed experiences,  or  personal  assurances  for  the  satisfaction  of  friends. 
None  were  needed.  The  venerable  Abraham  Booth  once  said,  when 
conversing  on  the  subject  of  happy  deaths :  "  I  pay  more  attention  to 
people's  lives  than  to  their  deaths." 


:K 


Ik' 


REV.  MATTHEW  ALLISON 


REV.  MATTHEW  ALLISON. 


REV.  MATTHEW  ALLISON  was  the  youngest  son  of  John  Alli- 
son and  Ellen  Jane  Lawson  Allison,  of  Windy  Edge,  Strat- 
haven,  Lankshire,  Scotland.  He  was  born  on  the  28th  day  of  July, 
A.  D.,  1794.  He  had  one  brother  and  two  sisters,  all  older  than 
himself;  one  sister  now  upwards  of  87  years,  survives  him.  A  son  of 
his  older  brother,  George  Allison,  is  his  successor  at  Kilbarchan,  and 
was  baptized  by  his  uncle  in  1819.  Matthew  Allison  was  what  the 
world  understands  as  a  self-made  man.  He  was  remarkably  free 
from  influence  of  friends  or  money  for  his  means  as  a  student  and  a 
minister.  He  was  sent  to  a  country  school  near  the  residence  of 
his  father  when  he  was  five  years  old.  Not  long  after  this  he  was 
sent  to  the  parish  school  at  Strathaven,  where  he  received  instruc- 
tions in  both  the  English  and  Latin  languages.  The  elder  Mr.  Simp- 
son, who  was  famed  at  that  day  for  his  classical  attainments  and  for 
his  success  in  training  his  pupils,  presided  over  this  school.  Mr. 
Allison  had  the  very  great  advantage  of  thus  making  a  correct 
beginning.  Nor  were  the  advantages  less  as  he  advanced  ;  for  he 
went  from  this  place  to  Glasgow  in  October,  1809,  and  entered  the 
University  there  when  he  was  15  years  of  age.  He  graduated  at 
the  age  of  19  in  1813.  He  then  entered  Divinity  Hall,  connected 
with  the  sam.*  institution,  on  which  he  attended  four  years  more, 
and  graduated  i  i  1817.  Thus  at  the  age  of  23  he  had  spent  eight 
years  at  Glasgow  University  and  Divinity  Hall,  (never  missing  a 
session  or  a  day  at  the  University,)  and  ten  years  at  Strathaven ;  and 
all  the  money  which  he  received  that  he  did  not  honestly  earn  by 
his  own  labor,  (teaching  night  schools  and  gentlemen's  sons  in  a 
private  way)  was  just  £50  or  $250. 

Mr.  Allison  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  in  the  same    year 
in  which  he  graduated,   1817,   by  the  Relief  Presbytery    of  Glasgow, 


278  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

and  in  May,  1818,  lie  received  a  call  to  one  of  the  most  important 
churches  connected  with  that  Presbytery.  He  was  ordained  and 
installed  pastor  of  the  church  of  Kilbarchan,  (about  12  miles  from 
Glasgow,)  on  the  4th  day  of  August,  1818.  Here  he  spent  a  useful 
and  happy  period  of  his  valuable  life,  remaining  almost  23  years 
without  a  jar  or  misunderstanding  to  interrupt  the  pleasant  har- 
mony which  existed  between  pastor  and  people.  After  he  had 
labored  in  the  ministry  at  Kilbarchan  for  upwards  of  two  years,  he 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Kirkwood,  of  Beith,  October,  1820,  at  the 
age  of  26  years.  She  died  in  the  spring  of  1822.  John  Allisox  was 
the  only  child  of  the  first  wife,  and  he  died  in  Antigua  at  the  age 
of  17.  In  October,  1828,  Mr.  Allisox  married  Miss  Agxes  Gemmell. 
By  her  he  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  He  lost  his  second 
wife  in  January,   1863. 

His  love  of  civil  liberty  and  his  admiration  of  the  government  of 
the  United  States  led  him  in  May,  1841,  to  demit  his  charge  at 
Kilbarchan,  and  to  sever  ties  that  had  been  cemented  so  strongly 
for  upwards  of  22  years,  and  come  to  this  country.  This  demit- 
ting  his  charge  at  Kilbarchan,  was  much  to  the  regret  of  the  whole 
congregation.  In  less  than  three  months  after  assigning  his  charge, 
he  landed  in  New  York,  and  in  five  months  more  was  called  to 
the  Presbyterian  church  at  Paterson,  New  Jersey.  This  was  on 
the  30th  day  of  December,  1841.  His  labors  in  Paterson  were 
eminently  successful  but  of  short  duration.  The  church  was  largely 
increased  in  numbers  while  he  was  there.  Owing  to  the  ill  health 
of  his  family,  and  thinking  that  a  return  to  the  native  air  of  old 
Scotland  would  be  beneficial  to  them,  he  resigned  his  charge  at 
Paterson  on  the  1st  day  of  May,  1843,  and  in  June  following,  landed 
in  Glasgow,  where  he  remained  nearly  a  year.  Here  he  preached  as 
opportunity  was  afforded,  and  although  offers  of  settlement  were 
made  to  him  he  never  accepted  a  charge,  longing  all  the  time  to 
return  to  his  adopted  country.  In  the  spring  of  the  following  year. 
1844,  he  came  again  to  the  United  States,  this  time  leaving  his 
family  behind  in  Scotland.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  came  to , 
Mifflintown  and  Lost  Creek.  He  supplied  these  churches  during 
the  winter,  and  in  the  spring,  March  26,  1845,  he  was  unani- 
mously called  to  be  their  pastor,  and  continued  pastor  upwards  of 
27  years.  He  continued  his  ministration  in  the  pulpit,  showing 
the  way  to  Heaven  to  his  people,  as  long  as  God  gave  him  strength 
of  body  to  do   it.    and    then   he   led   the   way,    entering    in    before 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  279 

them  on  the  8th  day  of  July,   1872,    in   the  78th  year    of   his    age, 
and  the  55th  year  of  his  ministry. 

Mr.  Allison  possessed  a  sound  mind  in  a  sound  body.  He  was 
large,  well-proportioned,  muscular  and  very  strong.  When  young, 
he  could  do  as  much  work  in  the  hay  field  as  two  or  three  com- 
mon men.  He  never  by  youthful  vices,  or  improper  indulgence  in 
meats  and  drinks,  injured  that  healthy  and  vigorous  constitution 
which  he  inherited  from  his  lathers.  Mr.  Allison's  mental  vigor 
was  as  remarkable  as  his  physical.  He  had  a  wonderful  tenacity  of 
memory.  He  hardly  ever  forgot  anything  which  he  once  knew. 
He  was  perfectly  familiar  with  English  history.  He  had  an  inti- 
mate acquaintance  with  the  history  of  all  the  old  families  of  England 
and  Scotland,  their  relationship  to  one  another,  and  everything  per- 
taining to  their  social  code  ;  and  he  would  talk  about  these  things  as 
one  who  knew  them  from  his  own  everyday  life.  He  was  remarkably 
familiar  with  the  Bible,  and  could  tell  the  exact  variation  in  the 
form  of  expressions  of  many  parallel  texts,  and  the  chapter  and  verse 
where  those  texts  were  to  be  found.  He  memorized  his  sermons, 
which  he  wrote  with  a  great  deal  of  care,  and  this  he  would  do  by 
once  or  twice  reading  them  over.  He  had  a  wonderful  power  of 
calling  up  at  any  time  any  event  that  had  transpired,  or  any  train  of 
thought  he  may  have  had  on  any  former  occasion.  His  memory 
was  tenacious  with  regard  to  men,  names,  countenances,  events,  dates, 
or  anything  to  be  remembered.  His  tenacity  of  memory  did  not  at 
all  interfere  with  his  judgment.  He  seldom  erred  in  his  opinion 
of  men  and  things.  He  was  a  safe  counsellor,  an  excellent  judge 
of  human  character,  a  fast  and  strong  friend  and  a  lenient  foe  if 
he  could  be  foe  to  any  man.  He  certainly  never  was  an  enemy  in 
the  common  acceptance  of  that  term. 

He  was  strictly  orthodox  and  particularly  evangelical.  His  ser- 
mons were,  therefore,  sound  and  well  calculated  to  comfort  and 
edify  the  saint.  They  were  logical,  clear,  concise ;  every  word  in 
its  right  place  and  not  a  superfluous  word  from  beginning  to  end. 
His  object  seemed  to  be  to  give  the  mind  of  the  Spirit  in  the  text, 
prove  the  doctrine  and  enforce  it.  The  Bible  was  his  book.  He 
was  well  acquainted  with  both  the  text  and  the  different  interpreta- 
tion of  the  text.  He  had,  we  may  almost  say,  no  library.  Having 
had  one.  and  carefully  read  his  books,  his  memory  was  such  that  he 
had  little  use  for  them  and  he  sold  them  ;  he  purchased  new  books 
and  read  them;  but  was  emphatically  a  thinker.     Though  he  wrote 


280  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES   OF   DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

his  sermons  carefully,  yet  when  occasion  required,  he  could  speak 
well  extemporaneously. 

The  spirituality  of  his  mind  was  decided  and  unmistakable, 
although  in  this  he  did  not  excell  many  of  his  brethren.  It  was 
not  of  a  demonstrative  kind.  His  piety  was  by  no  means  of  an  out- 
side showy  nature,  manifesting  itself  on  particular  occasions,  having 
its  ebb  and  flow  like  the  sea ;  but  was  of  a  permanent  kind,  showing 
itself  the  same  under  all  circumstances.  What  was  a  sufficient  rea- 
son to  move  him  at  one  time,  would  under  similar  circumstances 
move  him  at  all  times.  His  faith  in  God  was  the  source  of  his  con- 
victions, and  by  his  convictions  he  was  controlled  and  not  by  his 
emotions. 

He  tried  to  keep  a  conscience  void  of  offense  towards  God  and 
towards  his  fellow  men.  He  might  differ  from  them  but  would  not 
disagree  with  his  own  conscience.  To  the  admonitions  of  this  he 
would  adhere  in  matters  small  and  great. 

Mr.  Allison  was  remarkable  for  his  fluency,  pathos,  conciseness 
and  comprehensiveness  in  prayer.  His  prayers  were  the  utterance 
of  the  heart's  desires  and  the  appeals  of  a  helpless,  needy  soul,  to 
our  Heavenly  Father  with  filial  confidence. 

Childlike  in  his  disposition,  meek  in  his  behavior,  and  charitable 
to  others  infirmities,  he  was  always  ready  to  give  every  one  credit  for 
all  the  good  he  could  see  in  him.  He  was  noted  for  punctuality  : 
never  known  to  be  late. 

[This  sketch  of  the  life  of  Mr.  Allison  was  prepared  by  his  son. 
William  Allison,  Esq.,  of  Mifflin,  Pa.] 


KEY.   WILLIAM  M.  HALL. 


THE  subject  of  this  memoir  was  born  at  Harrisburg  on  the  16th  of 
February,  A.  D.,  1801.  He  departed  this  life  at  Bedford,  Pa.,  on 
the  28th  of  August,  A.  D.,  1851.  His  family  connections  were  of  the 
most  respectable  character  and  standing.  Of  his  early  history  we  are 
not  informed,  but  from  his  classical  and  other  attainments,  we  infer 
that  his  academical  training  was  mature,  and  his  scholarship  was 
highly  respectable.  He  was  educated  for  the  legal  profession,  and  his 
practice  at  the  bar  was  pursued  with  characteristic  energy  and  ardor, 
with  great  promise,  and  no  small  acceptance  to  the  public.  He  then 
resided  at  Lewistown,  Pa.,  and  there  became  connected  with  the  Pres- 
byterian church  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Eev.  Jas.  S.  Woods,  D.  D. 

Among  his  first  aspirations  after  his  conversion,  was  a  desire  for  the 
Gospel  ministry,  and  this  he  resolved  to  seek  and  enter  at  every  sacri- 
fice. He  accordingly  relinquished  the  practice  of  law  and  removed 
from  Lewistown  to  west  of  the  mountains,  to  prosecute  his  studies  for 
the  sacred  office  at  the  Allegheny  Seminary.  These  having  been  com- 
pleted by  a  two  year's  course,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel ; 
and  after  undergoing  due  probation,  was  ordained  to  the  full  preroga- 
tives of  the  Gospel  ministry. 

New  trials  awaited  him,  and  the  partial  failure  of  his  health  and 
sight,  confined  him  for  a  season  unemployed  at  Milroy,  Mifflin  count}'. 
But  he  was  not  inactive  there.  Entering  into  the  controversy  with 
the  Papacy,  he  spent  some  time  and  means  in  the  distribution  of 
books  on  that  subject,  till  a  wider  field  of  effort  opened  before  him. 
He  then  became  an  agent  of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners 
for  Foreign  Missions.  His  residence  was  then  removed  to  Philadel- 
phia, and  he  prosecuted  his  important  agency  through  various  parts  of 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania  for  several  years,  and  with  the  marked 
approbation  of  the  Board. 

At  this  time  Mr.  Hall's  ecclesiastical  relations  were  with  the  New 


282  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

School  Assembly.  He  afterwards  transferred  his  relations  to  the  Old 
School,  and  joined  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle.  Afterwards  he  became 
an  agent  of  the  General  Assembly's  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  and 
remained  in  that  capacity  for  some  time,  till  satisfied  with  agency  life. 
he  received  and  accepted  a  call  to  the  pastoral  charge  of  Bedford  con- 
gregation, where  he  continued  to  labor  till  declining  health  compelled 
the  relinquishment  of  the  charge ;  not  however  till  he  had  succeeded 
in  rendering  the  state  of  affairs  there  financially  more  in  accordance 
with  the  standard  of  accuracy,  of  which  he  was  observant  in  all  simi- 
lar matters.  After  this  he  acted  for  a  short  season  as  agent  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Colonization  Society,  and  secured  such  patronage  as  he 
could  for  a  cause  that  lay  very  near  his  heart,  the  liberation  and  col- 
onization of  the  peoj)le  of  color  on  the  coast  of  Africa. 

It  became  then  expedient,  in  his  view,  to  turn  his  attention  to  some 
other  pursuit,  requiring  less  physical  energy  than  public  speaking, 
though  the  Gospel  ministry  was  the  cherished  object  of  his  life.  The 
greatest  trial  of  his  life  was  the  necessity  forced  on  him  to  cease  from 
the  active  duties  of  the  ministry,  because  of  the  state  of  his  health. 
After  trying  another  expedient,  which  failed,  at  last  a  scheme  of  use- 
fulness offered,  which  he  was  about  to  try  on  his  return  to  Bedford, 
where  he  proposed  opening  a  female  seminary ;  when  his  wearied 
mind  and  waning  frame  were  gently  parted  by  the  unexpected  sum- 
mons of  death,  as  he  lay  resting  from  a  morning  walk. 

Such  are  the  facts  in  the  eventful  history  of  a  man  remarkable  for 
great  activity  of  mind  and  body,  of  unquestionable  talent  of  a  supe- 
rior order,  of  mercurial  temperament,  of  devoted  character.  He  was 
evidently  ripening  for  his  great  change  for  many  months  before  it 
came ;  and  as  successive  inroads  by  nervous  debility  were  made  upon 
his  frame,  he  seemed  to  feel  admonished  to  be  always  ready ;  and 
doubtless  when  the  Master  came  and  called  for  him,  his  transit  was 
easy  from  the  border  where  he  had  often  been  before,  to  the  actual 
territory  of  "  the  rest  remaining  for  the  people  of  God." 

He  left  a  widow  and  several  sons  and  daughters  to  mourn  his  loss. 
His  youngest  son  has  since  become  greatly  distinguished  as  a  lawyer 
and  a  politician;  another  is  distinguished  as  the  judge  of  the  judicial 
district  of  which  Bedford  is  the  centre ;  and  one  of  his  daughters  is 
married  to  the  Hon.  Francis  Jordax,  late  Secretary  of  the  Common- 
wealth, and  prominently  spoken  of  as  a  suitable  candidate  for 
Governor. 


REV.   JOSHUA  MOORE. 


REV.  JOSHUA  MOORE,  a  member  of  this  Presbytery,  died  April 
15,  1854.  He  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  at  a  small 
town  on  the  Allegheny  mountains,  called  Beulah.  His  father  was  an 
Englishman,  who,  with  a  number  of  others,  attempted  to  settle  at  the 
place  named.  The  attempt  to  effect  a  permanent  settlement  not  suc- 
ceeding according  to  expectation,  his  father  removed  with  his  family 
to  Washington  City,  D.  C,  while  the  subject  of  this  memoir  was  yet 
quite  a  boy.  In  what  year  he  was  born  is  not  certainly  known,  but  he 
was  supposed  to  have  been  about  55  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  At  Washington  City  he  received  his  early  education,  and 
remained  there  until  he  entered  ujoon  his  collegiate  course  in  Jeffer- 
son College.  Canonsburg,  where  he  graduated  about  1820.  After  leav- 
ing college  he  pursued  the  usual  course  of  theological  studies  at 
Princeton.  Being  licensed  to  preach  the  Oospel,  he  became  the  pastor 
soon  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Detroit,  Michigan.  How  long  he 
continued  in  this  charge,  is  not  known.  His  next  settlement  was 
over  a  congregation  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  perhaps  Snow 
Hill,  where  he  married  the  daughter  of  a  respectable  physician  and 
elder  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  His  pastoral  relation  to  the  con- 
gregation in  Maryland  was  dissolved  in  1831-2,  and  for  a  time  he 
became  stated  supply  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Norristown,  Pa. 
His  next  and  last  charge  was  the  congregation  of  East  Kishacoquillas. 
of  which  he  was  the  pastor  for  nearly  twenty  years,  and  in  connection 
with  which  he  died. 

Mr.  Moore  was  distinguished  for  eminent  piety,  not  bustling  and 
obstrusive,  but  substantial  and  enduring;  his  religion  was  a  living- 
principle,  a  constant  habit  of  soul.  No  one  could  pass  from  commun- 
ion with  him,  without  the  conviction  being  deeply  impressed  upon  his 
mind,  that  he  was  eminently  a  man  of  God.  Next  to  his  eminent 
piety  were  his   mental    endowments  and  literary  attainments.     The 


284  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES   OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

qualities  of  his  mind,  like  his  piety,  perhaps  were  not  showy,  but  they 
were  most  substantial.  His  literary  attainments  were  more  than 
respectable ;  in  some  respects  and  in  some  departments  they  were  em- 
inent. He  excelled  in  the  knowledge  of  history,  especially  ecclesias- 
tical history,  and  at  the  same  time  was  a  good  Latin,  Greek  and 
Hebrew  scholar.  There  were  few  who  possessed  more  general  infor- 
mation on  all  scientific  subjects.  As  a  theologian  his  knowledge  was 
extensive  and  accurate.  As  a  preacher  he  was  eminently  instructive 
and  substantial,  and  sometimes,  when  the  occasion  was  such  as  to  call 
forth  all  his  powers,  truly  eloquent.  In  varied,  appropriate,  and  im- 
pressive prayer,  he  excelled.  As  a  pastor  he  was  affectionate  and 
faithful.  In  seasons  of  affliction  he  was  among  his  people  the  sympa- 
thizing friend  and  the  tender  pastor.  He  excelled  as  a  spiritual 
director  and  comforter.  His  affectionate  pastoral  visits,  and  glowing 
sympathies,  gushing  from  a  sincere  and  warm  heart,  will  long  be 
remembered  by  the  people  of  his  late  charge.  He  was  a  man  of 
refined  taste  and  lively  sensibility ;  and  capable  of  suffering  intensely 
from  unkindness  himself,  he  was  scarcely  ever  known  to  utter  any- 
thing having  the  appearance  of  harshness,  and  was  incapable  of  har- 
boring a  vindictive  spirit.  A  childlike  simplicity  characterized  him  in 
many  respects.  His  disposition  was  almost  altogether  free  from  sus- 
picion. Simple  and  sincere  himself,  he  was  incapable  of  suspecting 
others.  In  a  word — "  he  was  an  Israelite  indeed,  in  whom  there  was 
no  guile."  He  died  sincerely  lamented  by  his  brethren  of  the  Pres- 
bytery, and  the  people  of  his  charge. 


REV.  JOHN  PEEBLES. 


THE  REV.  JOHN  PEEBLES  was  the  son  of  Captain  Robert 
Peebles,  an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  who  resided  near 
Shippensburg,  Pa.,  at  the  time  of  the  birth  of  the  subject  of  this 
notice,  the  17th  of  July,  1800.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Jefferson  Col- 
lege, studied  Theology  at  the  Princeton  Seminary  and  was  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  in  the  Spring  of  1824. 
In  November,  1824,  on  the  recommendation  of  the  late  Rev.  Henry  R. 
Wilson,  D.  D.,  he  visited  Huntingdon,  the  Presbyterian  church  there 
being  then  vacant.  His  pulpit  exercises  gave  such  general  satisfac- 
tion that  he  was  engaged  to  continue  his  ministerial  labors  as  stated 
supply  during  the  winter.  On  the  22d  and  23d  of  April,  1825,  he 
was  regularly  called  to  the  churches  of  Huntingdon  and  Hartslog, 
(Alexandria;)  the  former  for  two-thirds  and  the  latter  for  one-third 
of  his  pastorall  abors,  and  he  was  ordained  and  installed  in  the 
following  June.  An  unhappy  division  had  arisen  in  the  Hartslog 
congregation  during  the  pastorate  of  his  predecessor,  the  Rev.  John 
Johnston.  The  disaffected  portion  procured  a  separate  organization 
and  called  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson  as  their  pastor.  Each  of  the 
parties  built  new  church  edifices.  Mr.  Peebles  continued  his  labors  in 
the  other  branch  until  the  decease  of  Mr.  Thompson,  when,  with  his 
characteristic  disinterestedness  and  love  of  peace,  he  notified  his 
charge  that  the  auspicious  time  had  arrived  to  heal  the  existing 
breach  in  the  congregation,  and  to  effect  this  he  intended  to 
resign  his  pastoral  charge.  Convinced  by  the  purity  of  his  motives 
they  yielded  to  his  friendly  suggestion  and  through  his  mediation 
a  union  was  effected  which  has  happily  continued  until  the  present 
day.  After  relinquishing  his  charge  at  Alexandria  he  labored  succes- 
sively at  the  villages  of  Newton  Hamilton  and  Williamsburg,  until 
at  each   place  they   were  prepared    to  take  a  regular   portion   of    a 


28  fi  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

pastor's  time.  During  the  latter  part  of  his  ministry  the  Hunt- 
ingdon church  engaged  three-forths  of  his  time.  He,  however,  gen- 
erally employed  the  reserved  one-fourth  in  preaching  to  a  part  of  the 
congregation  in  the  country  or  in  town.  His  health,  at  no  time  very 
firm,  gradually  declined.  He  became  impressed  with  the  belief, 
which  no  expostulation  of  his  friends  could  remove,  that  it  was  his 
duty  to  resign  his  pastoral  charge.  After  much  hesitation  and 
frequent  remonstrances  on  the  part  of  the  church,  a  reluctant  acqui- 
escence was  yielded  to  his  wishes,  and  the  pastoral  relation  which  had 
so  beneficially  and  happily  existed,  was  dissolved  in  the  Spring  of  1850. 
With  regard  to  his  pulpit  exercises  his  sermons  were  characterized 
rather  by  correctness  of  composition,  solidity  of  matter  and  practical 
application  to  the  every  day  concerns  of  life  than  by  brilliancy  of 
thought  or  imaginative  flights.  He  seldom  indulged  in  anecdotes 
or  figurative  language  introduced  merely  for  the  sake  of  ornament. 
His  occasional  discourses  and  addresses  were  always  appropriate 
and  evinced  a  cultivated  taste  and  correct  scholarship.  Diffidence 
of  his  oratorical  powers  and  an  early  acquired  habit  of  reading  his 
sermons,  prevented  all  attempts  at  extemporaneous  preaching.  His 
evening  discourse  was  usually  delivered  from  short  notes  and  his 
week  day  lectures  without  any.  He  was  highly  gifted  in  prayer. 
The  fervency  and  [fluency  of  his  addresses  at  the  Throne  of  Grace, 
gave  evidence  that  he  was  entirely  "at  home"'  in  that  part  of 
pulpit  exercises.  But  the  loveliness  of  his  private  character,  the  prac- 
tical piety  and  conscientious  performance  of  all  the  duties  of  life  were 
the  winning  charms  which  so  greatly  endeared  him  to  his  pastoral 
charge  and  to  all  who  had  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  him.  His 
whole  life  was  a  "  living  epistle"  illustrating  the  benign  influence  of 
the  gospel  which  he  preached.  He  left  Huntingdon  soon  after  giving 
up  his  pastoral  charge,  and  in  the  Spring  of  1851  removed  with  his 
family  to  the  western  part  of  Virginia,  a  few  miles  from  Parkersburg. 
where  he  had  purchased  a  farm.  While  there  he  was  not  a  "  loiterer 
in  his  Master's  vineyard."  He  usually  preached  on  the  Sabbath. 
and  succeeded  in  the  face  of  considerable  opposition  on  the  part  of 
another  denomination,  in  having  a  church  edifice  built  and  a  small 
congregation  organized  in  his  neighborhood.  He  returned  with  his 
family  to  Huntingdon  in  May,  1854.  His  health  was  feeble,  though  he 
preached  occasionally  until  a  very  short  time  before  his  last  illness. 
On    the   3d   of    August  lie   was    seized  with  fever  of  a    typhoid    or 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  287 

bilious  character,  accompanied  by  distressing  symptoms  evincing  a 
general  lack  of  physical  power. 

His  answers  to  inquiries  respecting  his  state  of  mind  gave  satis- 
factory evidence  that  he  had  no  dread  of  death,  resting  his  hopes 
entirely  on  the  mediation  of  the  Eedeemer.  In  view  of  his  depar- 
ture and  the  glories  of  the  upper  Sanctuary,  he  more  than  once 
exclaimed — "  0,  that  will  be  joyful!''  About  9  o'clock  on  Friday 
evening,  the  11th  of  August,  he  calmly  expired. 

Mr.  Peebles  was  twice  married ;  first  to  Maria,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam B.  Duffield,  M.  P.,  of  Philadelphia,  on  the  4th  of  May,  1824, 
who  died  on  the  26th  of  February,  1831,  leaving  one  daughter;  and 
on  the  5th  of  August,  1834,  to  Jane,  daughter  of  Mr.  John  Lapsley 
of  Philadelphia,  who,  with  five  children,  two  sons  and  three  daughters, 
survive  to  mourn  the  loss  of  an  affectionate  husband  and  father. 


REV.  JOHN  M'KINNEY. 


THE  REV.  JOHN  McKINNEY  died  at  Hollidaysburg,  after  a  brief 
illness,  on  the  25th  day  of  August,  1867.  He  was  born  on  the 
26th  day  of  August,  1797,  being  71  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  wanting  one  day. 

Mr.  McKinney  spent  his  early  youth  near  Jacksonville,  Centre 
county,  Pa.,  and  was  trained  under  the  ministry  of  that  venerable 
servant  of  God,  Rev.  James  Linn,  D.  D.,  and  by  him  first  received 
into  the  communion  of  the  church.  He  received  his  literary  educa- 
tion at  Jefferson  College,  studied  Theology  at  Princeton  Seminary,  and 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia, 
on  the  22d  of  April,  1824.  Having  received  a  call  from  the  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Fredericktown,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  he  was 
ordained  April,  1829,  and  installed  pastor  of  said  church.  His  pas- 
toral relation  to  this  church  was  dissolved  October,  1837.  A  call 
from  the  church  of  Alexandria  having  been  presented  to  and 
accepted  by  Mr.  McKinney,  he  was  installed  over  this  charge  in  May. 
1838.  Here  he  continued  to  labor  faithfully  in  connection  with 
Pine  Grove  church,  of  which  he  was  stated  supply  till  July,  1848. 
when  at  his  own  request  the  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved.  Remov- 
ing immediately  to  the  State  of  Ohio,  he  took  charge  of  the  congre- 
gation of  Oswego.  After  a  few  years  Mr.  McKinnev  returned 
within  the  bounds  of  this  Presbytery  and  lived  among  his  family 
and  friends  without  any  particular  charge  until  the  time  of  his 
death.  As  a  preacher  he  was  plain,  practical  and  orthodox.  As  a 
man  he  was  amiable  and  always  consistent  in  character;  exemplifying 
in  his  daily  walk  the  practical  lessons  which  he  taught  from  the 
pulpit.  Conscientiously  punctual  in  attendance  upon  the  meetings 
of  Presbytery  and  other  ecclesiastical  courts,  though  never  given 
to  much  speaking,  his  judgment  was  sound  and  his  opinions  always 
respected  by  his  brethren. 

In  fine,  he  was  a  good  man,  a  useful  minister,  and  is  now  without 
doubt,  enjoying  the  reward  of  the  faithful  servant. 


REV.  JAMES  WILLIAMSON. 


7? 


THE  Eev.  James  Williamson,  recently  a  member  of  Huntingdon 
Presbytery,  was  born  June  11,  1795,  in  Mifflin  township,  Cum- 
berland county.  Pa.  His  parents  were  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and 
were  particular  in  the  religious  training  of  their  children.  His  father 
was  twice  married,  and  had  fourteen  children.  At  one  period  of  his 
life  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  every  one  of  his  children, 
then  living,  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church ;  that  several 
of  his  sons  had  graduated  at  different  colleges,  and  that  five  of  his 
sons  were,  or  had  been,  ministers  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  James 
received  his  academical  education  partly  at  Cumberland,  Maryland, 
and  partly  at  Hopewell  Academy,  six  miles  north  of  Shippensburg. 
He  received  his  collegiate  education  partly  at  Dickinson,  and  partly 
at  Washington  College.  At  the  latter  institution  he  graduated  with 
honor,  the  delivery  of  the  Latin  Salutatory  being  assigned  to  him. 
He  became  the  subject  of  a  saving  change,  as  he  hoped,  the  last  year 
lie  was  in  college.  His  theological  education  was  received  at  Prince- 
ton Seminary.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle, 
November,  1820.  For  about  a  year  he  had  a  large  circuit  assigned 
him  as  missionary  in  Northern  Pennsylvania,  the  prominent  points  of 
which  were  Wilkesbarre,  Montrose,  Athens,  &c.  There  was  no  Pres- 
byterian organization  in  all  this  region,  at  that  time.  In  the  Fall  of 
1821  he  returned  to  Princeton  Seminary,  where  he  remained  as  a  resi- 
dent licentiate  until  the  June  following,  when  he  accepted  an  invita- 
tion to  supply  the  church  of  Athens,  a  point  in  his  former  missionary 
field.  Whilst  here  God  visited  his  church  with  a  remarkable  outpour- 
ing of  bis  Spirit,  the  result  of  which  was  an  addition  to  that  church 
of  sixty  or  seventy  persons.  About  this  time  the  Luzerne  Congrega- 
tional Association  of  ministers  resolved  themselves  into  a  Presbytery. 


290  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

designated  then,  and  has  been  ever  since,  as  the  Luzerne  Presbytery. 
By  this  Presbytery  Brother  Williamson  was  ordained  and  set  apart  to 
the  full  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry.  In  the  year  1823  he  accepted  a 
call  from  the  Silver  Spring  congregation,  Cumberland  county,  Pa., 
where  he  remained  for  nearly  fourteen  years.  During  these  years  his 
church  was  visited  with  several  seasons  of  revival,  the  most  remarka- 
ble of  which  was  in  1832.  His  pastoral  relation  here  was  dissolved 
with  a  view  to  his  accepting  a  call  from  Peoria,  Illinois,  but  which,  for 
some  reason,  he  eventually  declined.  In  1838  he  accepted  a  call  to 
Milton  in  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland.  Dui'ing  the  first  years 
of  his  ministry  here  his  labors  were  much  blest.  In  1847  he  became 
pastor  of  the  churches  of  New  Berlin,  Hartleton,  and  Mifflinburg, 
Union  county,  Pa.  In  1849  he  accepted  a  call  from  East  Windsor  and 
Fancytown  churches,  Baltimore  Presbytery.  During  the  time  he  re- 
mained here  Thorndale  Female  Seminary  and  Glenham  Male  Acad- 
emy were  twice  visited  with  seasons  of  refreshing  from  on  high.  In 
1854  he  accepted  a  call  from  the  church  of  Athens,  where  he  had 
labored  thirty  years  before,  and  where  his  labors  had  been  crowned 
with  such  remarkable  success.  In  the  year  1858  he  accepted  a  call  to 
West  Kishacoquillas  church.  During  the  short  time  he  remained 
here  forty-nine  were  added  to  this  church.  After  his  resignation  of 
this  congregation  he  was  elected  superintendent  of  the  common 
schools  of  Mifflin  county,  which  office  he  accepted,  and  at  the  same 
time  supplied  the  church  of  Little  Valley.  It  was  during  a  commun- 
ion season  in  this  church  that  he  was  stricken  with  paralysis,  from 
which  he  never  recovered.  His  sufferings  were  severe  and  protracted ; 
but  his  resignation  and  submission  were  marked.  His  death  was 
peaceful  and  triumphant.  It  took  place  at  his  residence  in  Lewis- 
town,  March  10,  1865. 

Brother  Williamson  was  twice  married.  By  his  first  wife  (Miss  P. 
M.  Hopkins)  he  had  four  children,  all  of  whom  survive  him.  By  his 
last  wife,  (Miss  C.  Geddes,)  three,  only  one  of  whom  still  lives. 


REV.  ANDREW  JARDINE. 


THE  EEV.  ANDREW  JARDINE  departed  this  life  in  the  83d 
year  of  his  age  and  the  36th  of  his  ministry,  on  the  15th  of 
May,  1868,  in  East  Maine,  Broome  county,  New  York.  Mr.  Jardine 
was  born  on  the  25th  of  February,  1785,  in  the  parish  of  Southdean, 
Scotland.  His  parents,  Thomas  Jardine  and  Janet  Oliver,  were 
pious  members  of  the  Established  church  of  Scotland.  When 
a  child  he  was  struck  by  lightning,  which  for  a  time  impaired  his 
physical  constitution  and  nearly  deprived  him  of  sight.  Early 
in  life  he  formed  the  desire  to  become  a  minister  of  the  gospel, 
but  his  parents  were  unable  through  poverty  to  afford  him  an  edu- 
cation; and  one-half  of  his  long  life  was  spent  in  acquiring  it  for 
himself.  To  do  this,  he  worked  on  a  farm,  tended  sheep  and 
taught  schools  in  his  neighborhood.  Having  through  these  means 
acquired  funds  enough  to  enable  him  to  attend  a  Grammar  school,  he 
entered  one  at  Jedburg.  After  having  obtained  there  a  competent 
knowledge  of  the  English,  Latin,  and  Greek  branches,  he  next  became 
a  teacher  of  a  parish  school  in  the  county  of  Northumberland,  in 
England.  He  remained  in  that  position  four  yeai*s,  after  which  he 
entered  the  Edinburgh  University.  During  his  attendance  here  he 
taught  a  classical  school,  and  was  for  some  years  Secretary  to  the 
Scottish  Bible  Society.  After  many  years  spent  in  laborious  prepa- 
ration, he  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  in  1832,  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  New  Castle,  in  England,  and  for  six  months  thereafter 
supplied  the  church  at  Felton,  England,  during  the  absence  of  the 
regular  minister.  In  1834  a  gentleman  who  had  acquired  a  large 
tract  of  land  at  Silver  Lake  in  the  North  Eastern  part  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, raised  a  colony  of  emigrants  in  and  around  Jedburg,  in 
Scotland,  for  the  purpose  of  settling  on  that  land.  He  also  invited 
.Mr.  Jardine  t<>  Ik-  their  pastor  and  lie  consented.      He  was  ordained 


292  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES   OF    DECEASED   MEMBERS. 

for  that  purpose  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle.  With  this 
colony  Mr.  Jardine  arrived  at  New  York  on  the  5th  of  August, 
1834,  and  repaired  directly  to  Silver  Lake  and  entered  upon  the 
duties  of  his  ministry.  But  the  colony  did  not  exist  long ;  for 
finding  affairs  very  different  from  what  they  had  been  represented 
in  England,  dissatisfaction  ensued  and  the  colony  soon  disbanded, 
and  the  members  thereof,  Mr.  Jardine  included,  sought  more  con- 
genial situations. 

In  April,  1836,  after  a  long  and  searching  examination  of  his  faith 
in  those  doctrines  which  then  agitated  the  church,  he  was  cordially 
received  as  a  foreign  minister  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia. 
Shortly  afterwards  he  became  stated  supply  to  a  church  in  Maryland, 
in  which  situation  he  remained  five  years ;  then  at  Derham  church 
in  Tinicum,  Pa.,  for  one  year  ;  and  afterwards  for  eighteen  months  to 
a  church  at  Port  Carbon,  Pa.  But  earnestly  desirous  of  obtaining  a 
permanent  charge,  and  learning  that  a  colony  of  his  countrymen  in 
Clearfield  county,  Pa.,  desired  a  pastor,  he  concluded  to  pay  them 
a  visit  and  tender  his  services.  While  on  his  way  there  he  met  the 
Rev.  Joh'n  Hutcheson,  then  pastor  of  Mifflintown  and  Lost  Creek, 
who  called  his  attention  to  a  vacant  church  of  Middle  Tuscarora, 
Juniata  county,  and  advised  him  to  apply  for  that.  Yielding  to  Mr. 
Hutcheson's  persuasions,  he  accompanied  him  and  was  by  him  intro- 
duced to  the  congregation.  That  church  heard  him  gladly  ;  in  due 
time  he  was  called,  and  he  was  regularly  installed  as  their  pastor  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon.  There  he  labored  abundantly  for 
sixteen  years,  and  for  a  long  time  with  eminent  success.  The  church 
grew  rapidly  under  his  ministry  until  it  numbered  nearly  five 
hundred  members.  But  in  course  of  time,  old  age  with  its  infirmities 
came  upon  him,  and  a  long  and  severe  fever  impaired  his  faculties, 
both  mental  and  bodily.  The  old  members  gradually  died  off  and 
the  young  became  weary  of  his  old  fashioned  style  of  preaching. 
Thinking  that  he  had  survived  his  usefulness,  the  church  asked  for 
a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation.  This  action  on  their  part, 
hurt  his  feelings  exceedingly  ;  for  he  tenderly  loved  all  the  lambs 
of  his  flock,  and  it  was  always  his  cherished  desire  to  live  and  die 
with  them.  Besides  he  had  labored  faithfully  during  the  best  years 
of  his  ministry  for  the  miserable  pittance  of  four  hundred  dollars 
salary  per  annum ;  and  at  this  time,  nearly  two  thousand  dollars  of 
that  miserable  pittance  was  still  due  to  him.     But  the  Huntingdon 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  293 

Presbytery  believing  that  it  would  prove  advantageous  to  all 
parties  concerned,  having  received  a  guarantee  that  all  the  arrears 
of  his  stipend  should  be  paid,  concluded  to  dissolve  the  pastoral 
relation.  This  they  did  much  to  his  sorrow  and  regret.  After  this 
he  had  no  fixed  charge.  For  a  few  months  he  supplied  the  con- 
gregation of  Mount  Pleasant,  in  Clearfield  county,  Pa.,  after  which, 
in  1858,  he  removed  to  East  Maine,  Broome  county,  New  York,  to 
the  residence  of  his  cousin,  William  Hogg,  Esq.,  where  he  remained 
until  his  death. 


REV.  GEORGE  W.   THOMPSON,  D.D. 


GEORGE  W.  THOMPSON  was  born  in  New  Providence,  Essex- 
county,  New  Jersey,  on  the  10th  clay  of  October,  1819.  Two  or 
three  years  later  his  family  removed  to  New  Brunswick,  where  the 
greater  part  of  his  early  life  was  passed.  In  1835,  in  his  16th  year,  he 
made  a  profession  of  religion  in  the  church,  then  under  the  care  of 
the  Rev.  Joseph  H.  Jones,  D.  D.  After  graduating  at  "  Rutger's  Col- 
lege," New  Brunswick,  he  entered  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Princeton,  and  completed  the  regular  course  of  study.  While  con- 
nected with  this  institution  he  labored  for  sixmonths  in  Cazenovia,  N. 
Y.,  under  the  direction  of  the  pastor  there.  Before  leaving  the  semi- 
nary he  was  licensed  by  the.  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  and  was 
immediately  invited  to  become  the  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
in  Danville,  Pa.  After  remaining  there  a  short  time  he  accepted  a  call 
to  the  churches  of  Mifflinburg  and  New  Berlin,  at  the  latter  of  which 
places  he  was  married  to  Miss  Marv  Ann  Stillwell.  His  ordination 
and  installation  took  place  in  1841  or  1842.  During  this  pastorate  he 
preached  also  at  Hartleton,  where  a  church  was  soon  organized.  In 
the  Spring  of  1847  he  was  called  to  the  church  of  Lower  Tuscarora. 
which  he  served  for  seventeen  years.  Toward  the  close  of  his  minis- 
try there  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him  by 
the  trustees  of  Jefferson  College.  He  died  at  his  home  in  Academia, 
Tuscarora  Valley,  on  the  28th  of  January,  1864,  of  congestion  of  the 
liver,  in  the  fourth  month  of  the  45th  year  of  his  age,  leaving  a  wife 
and  two  children. 

Dr.  Thompson  was  a  man  of  pleasing  person  and  winning  address. 
He  had  a  sprightly  and  most  genial  spirit.  Its  innocent  and  peaceful 
overflowings  helped  to  endear  him  to  his  friends,  and  to  enliven  and 
cheer  every  circle  in  which  he  moved.  He  had  an  acute,  ready,  and 
practical  mind.     When  lie  applied  it  to  a  subject  his  thoughts  were 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  295 

clear  and  discriminating,  often  exceedingly  vigorous  and  impressive. 
His  command  of  language — his  plain  Saxon  English  diction — his  mi- 
nute and  familiar  treatment  of  his  theme — his  power  of  illustration, 
and  his  easy  and  graceful  manner,  made  him  one  of  the  most  popular 
extemporaneous  speakers  of  his  day.  The  leading  characteristics  of 
his  preaching  were  plainness,  pointedness,  persuasiveness,  and  adapt - 
edness — especially  this  last.  He  labored  to  know  and  present  to  the 
people  the  particular  truths  he  thought  most  suited  to  the  occasion. 
He  seemed  peculiarly  qualified  to  conduct  and  aid  in  services  con- 
nected with  revivals  of  religion.  In  such  seasons  his  labors  were 
often  remarkably  blessed,  to  his  own  and  other  churches.  The  recov- 
ery of  many  a  backslider,  and  the  awakening  and  conversion  of  many 
sinners,  throughout  this  and  other  Presbyteries,  attest  how  he  was  a 
chosen  instrument  of  salvation  to  souls.  While  in  this  and  other 
lands,  many  now  in  the  ministry,  remember  him  affectionately  as 
their  spiritual  father  and  helper.  To  the  Boards  of  our  church  he  was 
a  prompt  and  useful  friend ;  while  all  the  causes  a  good  man  is 
bound  to  support,  especially  those  in  his  own  community,  received 
his  constant  and  generous  attention.  A  large  and  flourishing  acad- 
emy, and  a  seminary  for  young  ladies,  hard  by  his  home,  owe  much  of 
their  prosperity  and  christian  influence  to  his  efforts.  In  Presbytery 
his  animation,  earnestness,  and  diligent  attention  to  business,  and 
readiness  of  counsel,  cause  his  loss  to  be  deeply  felt  among  the  breth- 
ren with  whom  he  immediately  associated. 

His  pastoral  labors  among  the  people  of  his  late  charge  were  emi- 
nently successful.  A  church  comparatively  feeble  when  he  came  to  it, 
at  his  death  numbered  near  seven  hundred  communicants,  with 
several  flourishing  Sabbath  Schools  and  prayer  meetings,  and  a  large 
and  efficient  eldership,  composed  of  men  of  prayer  and  work.  After 
his  death  it  was  divided  into  two  congregations,  each  sustaining  a 
pastor.  His  influence  over  his  people  was  marked,  and  will  be  long 
remembered  and  felt.  He  was  a  man  among  men  wherever  he  was, 
and  whatever  he  did.  The  people,  and  especially  the  young  with 
whom  he  conversed  on  the  subject  of  religion,  whom  in  the  hour  of 
conviction  and  distress  he  sought  to  lead  to  the  great  Consoler,  felt 
that  he  was  their  fellow,  a  sinner  like  themselves,  to  be  "saved  by 
cjrace,"  and  one  who  knew  the  weakness  of  their  hearts.  He  was  a 
man  of  faith  and  prayer,  and  simple  dependence  on  Christ.  Salvation 
through  Christ  was  the  great  theme  of  his  preaching,  and  as  he  said, 


296  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

when  dying,  "  he  rested  on  Christ  with  a  poor  sinner's  hope."  And 
those  who  knew  him  best,  remember  him  now  as  a  childlike,  unsus- 
pecting, kind-hearted,  patient,  forbearing,  and  forgiving  christian  man 
and  minister — loving  the  brethren,  and  beloved  by  them  all.  And  the 
Presbytery  of  which  he  was  so  long  an  active  and  useful  member,  in  its 
last  official  act  towards  him,  orders  the  record  of  this  brief  memorial 
of  his  life  and  death,  with  affecting  sense  of  loss  to  themselves,  and 
to  the  Church,  in  his  comparatively  early  removal. 

"  The  pains  of  death  are  passed, 

Labor  and  sorrow  cease, 
And  life's  stern  warefare,  closed  at  last. 

His  soul  is  found  in  peace. 
Soldier  of  Christ !  well  done  ! 

Praise  be  thy  new  employ : 
And  while  eternal  ages  run, 

Rest  in  the  Saviour's  joy." 


REV.  SAMUEL  M.  COOPER. 


"2 


SAMUEL  M.  COOPER  was  a  son  of  Mr.  Robert  Cooper,  an  elder 
of  East  Kishacoquillas  congregation.  Of  course  he  enjoyed  the 
advantage  of  that  careful  religious  training  which  pious  Presby- 
terian parents  were  then  accustomed  to  give  their  children.  At 
what  age  he  became  a  member  of  the  church  of  his  fathers,  by  his 
own  voluntary  act,  we  have  now  no-  means  of  knowing,  but  it 
must  have  been  in  his  early  youth,  as  he  was  still  quite  a  young  man 
when  he  commenced  his  studies  with  a  view  to  the  ministry.  He 
was  graduated  at  Jefferson  College,  Canonsburg,  in  1836.  He  was 
received  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  October, 
1838,  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry.  Having  completed  his  Theo. 
logical  studies  at  Princeton  Seminary,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the 
gospel  by  the  Presbytery,  April  16,  1840.  Before  the  next  stated 
meeting  of  the  Presbytery  he  received  a  call  to  Lick  Run  congre- 
gation, Centre  county,  which  had  formerly  been  a  part  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Li \x's  charge.  Before  his  settlement  he  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy 
Forsythe,  of  Lewistown,  a  lady  eminently  suited  to  be  a  helpmate 
for  him.  He  continued  to  be  the  pastor  of  Lick  Run  till  the 
Spring  of  1852,  at  which  time  the  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved 
at  his  request  and  with  the  consent  of  the  congregation,  in  view  of 
his  failing  health.  Some  years  previous  to  this  he  had  established 
in  Jacksonville  a  Female  Seminary,  over  which  he  presided  with 
eminent  success,  but  this,  together  with  his  pastoral  labors,  in  a  large 
and  widely  spread  congregation,  was  too  much  for  a  constitution 
never  very  firm,  and  his  health  began  to  fail.  Though  he  was  greatly 
l>eloved  personally,  and  highly  esteemed  as  a  preacher  by  the  con- 
gregation, they  saw  the  necessity  of  consenting  to  his  release  from 
their  charge. 

Mr.  Cooper  continued  for  a  year  and  a  half  after  the  dissolution  of 
his  pastoral  relation  to  Lick  Run,  in  change  of  the  Female  Seminary : 


298  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

when  he  received  and  accepted  a  call  to  Clearfield  town,  Clearfield 
county.  After  servuig  that  congregation  for  about  two  yeras,  his 
health  again  failed,  and  on  an  occasion  of  exposure  to  severe  cold 
was  brought  very  near  to  the  gates  of  death.  Recovering  so  far  as  to 
permit  of  traveling,  he  repaired  to  Florida,  with  the  hope  of  permanent 
benefit  from  that  milder  climate.  He  was  so  far  temporally  relieved, 
that  shortly  after  his  return  he  consented  to  supply  statedly  the  con- 
gregation of  Little  Valley.  Before  this,  however,  he  had  returned 
to  Jacksonville  with  his  family  and  resumed  charge  of  the  Seminary, 
the  buildings  of  which  belonged  to  him.  Shortly  after  his  resumption 
of  the  Seminary,  Mrs.  Cooper  was  taken  suddenly  ill  and  died  after  a 
few  hours  of  sickness.  Heretofore  she  had  enjoyed  remarkable  good 
health  and  was  providentially  enabled  to  relieve  her  husband  of 
much  of  the  burden  connected  with  the  external  affairs  of  the  Sem- 
inary. On  the  occurrence  of  this  sad  event  it  became  necessary  for 
Mr.  Cooper  to  transfer  the  Seminary  to  other  hands.  Upon  this  he 
accepted  the  invitation  to  supply  the  congregation  of  Little  Valley, 
as  already  stated.  Here  he  labored  for  a  year  and  a  half  or  two 
years,  when,  in  July,  1860,  he  died  of  pulmonary  consumption,  the 
disease  which  had  for  some  years  previously  been  preying  upon  his 
vitals. 

As  to  personal  appearance,  Mr.  Cooper  was  tall  and  slender,  per- 
haps something  over  six  feet  in  height,  of  dark  hair  and  florid  com- 
plexion ;  in  natural  qualities  he  was  mild,  amiable,  social,  and 
generous.  As  a  preacher,  fully  and  entirely  orthodox  according  to 
the  standard  of  Presbyterianism;  always  very  acceptable  in  the  pulpit 
and  persuasive.  As  a  pastor  he  was  laborious  and  faithful ;  and  to 
his  conscientious  punctuality  in  fulfilling  his  appointments,  may  be 
attributed  the  laying  the  foundation  of  the  disease  of  which  he 
died.  He  was  universally  beloved  in  his  congregations,  and  especially 
by  the  church  he  served  first  and  longest,  which,  of  course,  knew 
him  best.  It  is  believed  that  in  no  place  and  at  no  time,  had  he 
a  personal  enemy. 

Mr.  Cooper  left  a  daughter  and  two  sons  ;  several  other  children 
having  died  in  their  infancy.  His  daughter  was  married  to  Dr. 
Hoover,  of  Lewistown,  and  died  in  May,  1870.  The  two  sons  survive 
and  are  usefully  employed.  Mr.  Cooper  died  in  the  44th  or  45th 
year  of  his  age. 


REV.  DAVID  D.  CLARKE,  D.  D. 


REV.  DAVID  D.  CLARKE,  D.  D.,  departed  this  life  in  McVey- 
town,  Mifflin  county,  Pa.,  on  the  30th  of  December,  1865,  in  the 
fifty-fifth  year  of  his  age.  He  was  born  near  Shippensburg,  Cumber- 
land county.  Pa.,  completed  his  academical  education  at  the  school  of 
Dr.  Cooper,  not  far  from  his  home,  and  graduated  at  Jefferson  College 
in  1831,  from  wbich  he  received  his  honorary  degree  a  few  years 
before  his  death.  He  made  a  profession  of  his  faith  in  the  church  at 
Shippensburg,  then  under  the  care  of  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  R.  Wilson,  Sr. 
After  studying  theology  at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  he  was  licensed  in  183V 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle.  He  commenced  to  preach  in  Schells- 
burg,  Bedford  county,  Pa.,  and  after  laboring  a  few  months  was  called 
to  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  church  there  in  1838.  Thence  in  1843 
he  removed  to  Fairfield,  Adams  county,  Pa.,  to  succeed  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Paxton,  who  was  infirm,  in  the  pastorate  of  the  Lower  Marsh  Creek 
congregation.  He  remained  in  this  field  till  1856,  when  he  went  to 
McVeytown  to  take  charge  of  the  churches  of  McVeytown  and 
Newton  Hamilton  ;  over  which  he  was  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Huntingdon  the  same  year.  He  was  twice  married.  A  widow  and 
one  son,  of  four  children  by  his  first  marriage,  survive  him ;  two 
daughters  and  a  son  having  preceded  him  to  the  eternal  world. 

An  illness  of  two  weeks  continuance,  that  terminated  his  life,  com 
nienced  but  a  few  days  after  he  had  closed  a  protracted  meeting  of 
unusual  interest. 

God  at  that  time  permitted  him  to  see  his  work  revived  in  one 
branch  of  his  charge,  as  he  had  done  a  year  or  two  before  in  another, 
nnd  immediately  called  him  away.  His  end  was  such  as  might  have  been 
•  •xpected — marked  by  the  same  humility,  dignity,  and  trust  in  Christ 
he  bud  always  shown.     He  has  left  a  character,  as  far  as  man  knows. 


300  BIOGRAPHICAL    S&ETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

without  a  stain,  and  a  memory  of  unwonted  fragrance  in  every  con- 
gregation he  served.  The  faithfulness  and  earnestness  of  his  preach- 
ing, the  point  and  tenderness  of  his  pastoral  counsels  cannot  easily  1><- 
forgotten :  while  his  gentleness,  firmness,  prudence,  and  wisdom  in 
Presbyterial  and  ordinary  social  relations  endeared  him  to  all  who 
knew  him.  His  ministry  of  twenty-eight  years,  that  had  been  blessed 
from  the  beginning,  presents  at  its  close  most  precious  fruits,  in  the 
growth,  order,  and  spiritual  prosperity  of  the  people  among  whom  he 
breathed  his  last.  Thanks  be  to  God  for  the  grace  that  forms  such 
men.  and  spares  them  so  long  to  the  Church. 


REV.   JAMES   0.  MAHON. 


TNote. — Though  not  in  the  exact  order  intended,  a  hrief  memorial  of 
the  Rev.  James  C.  Mahox  is  appended,  who  was  a  brother-in-law  of  Dr. 
Clarke,  whose  second  wife  was  his  sister.] 

JAMES  C.  MAHON  was  born  in  the  year  1821.  In  early  boyhood, 
having  been  the  subject  of  a  pious  mother's  prayers  and  counsels, 
his  thoughts  were  turned  to  the  importance  of  religion.  His  first 
noticeable  convictions  were  under  the  preaching  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  H. 
R.  Wilson,  Sr.,  then  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  his  native 
town.  These  convictions  were  pungent,  and  continued,  at  intervals, 
for  months.  A  part  of  his  time  was  spent  with  his  brother,  Rev. 
Joseph  Mahon,  in  Lawreneeville,  N.  J.  Sometimes  almost  phrenzied 
with  despair,  he  would  say  that  his  doom  was  sealed — that  it  was  no 
use  for  him  to  try  to  be  a  Christian.  Again,  in  deepest  anguish,  he 
would  cry  for  mercy.  More  than  once  he  waked  his  friends  at  mid- 
night to  pray  for  him.  After  his  return  to  Shippensburg  there  was  a 
protracted  meeting  held  in  the  neighborhood.  He  attended,  and 
during  its  progress  found  peace  in  believing. 

Feeling  now  that  his  life  should  be  devoted  to  the  honor  of  God,  he 
determined  to  prosecute  the  studies  which  he  had  already  com- 
menced, with  the  view  of  preaching  the  Gospel.  He  put  himself 
under  the  theological  instruction  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Harper,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle.  In  the  Fall  of  1850  he  entered 
the  theological  seminary  at  Princeton,  spent  two  sessions,  was  licensed 
in  the  Summer  of  1852,  and  after  spending  a  third  session  at  the  sem- 
inary he  accepted,  in  the  Spring  of  1853,  an  invitation  to  supply  the 
united  churches  of  Washington  and  Carrolton,  in  the  Presbytery  of 
Miami,  Ohio,  where  he  was  ordained.  After  some  time,  having  occa- 
sion to  visit  his  friends  in  the  East,  he  accepted  an  invitation  to 
supply  the  Church  at  Hunterstown,  and  afterwards  Millerstown  and 
Buffalo,  in  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle.     Being  invited  to  Lexington. 


:i02  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

Illinois,  his  labors  in  this  comparatively  new  field,  as  well  as  in  the 
adjacent  region,  have  many  witnesses  to  their  fidelity  and  success. 

Suffering  from  a  bronchial  affection,  which  eventually  terminated 
his  life,  he  relinquished  this  position,  transferring  his  connection  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon.  He  was  never  able  to  take  a  pastoral 
charge,  though  several  times  solicited,  but  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
ministerial  life  in  occasional  and  missionary  service,  for  the  most  part 
in  Blair,  Huntingdon  and  Centre  counties. 

Two  years  before  his  death  he  had  been  confined  for  several  months, 
and  ought  to  have  refrained  from  public  speaking ;  but  it  was  his  mis- 
fortune that  he  could  not  answer  adversely  to  an  urgency  to  preach, 
and  therefore  was  often  in  the  pulpit,  when  he  ought  to  have  been  in 
the  hands  of  the  physician.  The  Sabbath  before  his  first  hemorrhage 
he  preached  twice;  immediately  after  it  he  went  to  Shippensburg,  and 
seemed  to  rally ;  but  three  weeks  after  he  had  another  profuse  hem- 
orrhage, which  so  prostrated  him  that  he  never  recovered.  He  in  a 
remarkable  manner  enjoyed  in  his  last  sickness  what  he  had  so 
earnestly  desired,  the  presence  of  Christ.  A  few  days  before  his  death 
he  said — "  I  wonder  when  I  shall  be  delivered  from  this  bondage  of 
corruption.  I  had  thought  that  I  was  about  to  be  gone.  Come,  Lord 
Jesus!  come  quickly!  I  want  to  go  home."  He  died  at  Shippensburg, 
the  place  of  his  birth,  on  the  15th  of  January,  1868,  in  the  forty 
seventh  year  of  his  age. 


REV.  THOMAS  STEVENSON. 


THIS  beloved  brother  and  faithful  minister  of  Christ  was  a  native 
of  Ireland,  the  descendant  of  a  Scotch  family,  which  settled 
almost  two  hundred  years  ago  on  the  same  farm  where  Thomas 
was  born.  He  was  the  second  of  six  sons,  four  of  whom  have  passed 
to  that  land  from  whence  there  is  no  returning.  In  early  life 
Thomas  manifested  a  love  for  books,  and  while  a  boy  became  quite 
familiar  with  Sacred  Scriptures.  Taught  from  his  youth  to  venerate 
the  christian  ministry  and  to  worship  God  in  the  institutions  of 
his  grace,  he  became  impressed  with  his  need  of  a  saving  interest 
in  Christ,  and  regarding  himself  as  lost  without  a  Saviour  he  professed 
his  faith  in  Christ,  and  when  eighteen  years  of  age  united  with  the 
church  in  which  he  lived  and  in  which  he  died.  Soon  after  his 
b)  other  Koss  came  to  this  country  and  entered  upon  a  course  of 
study  for  the  ministry,  Thomas  greatly  clesirxl  to  be  a  co-laborer 
with  him,  and  with  this  object  in  view,  entered  the  high  school  of  the 
Rev.  C.  Aj.len,  Strabane.  Under  the  instructions  of  that  greal 
classical  scholar  he  remained  two  years,  and  in  the  Spring  of 
1839  left  his  father's  home  for  the  United  States  of  America. 

A  kind  provi  lence  brought  him  safely  to  this  country,  and  about 
the  last  of  May  he  reached  the  village  of  New  Athens  and  entered 
Franklin  College.  Here  he  spent  three  years  and  six  months  in 
which  time  he  obtained  considerable  distinction  as  a  close  student,  a 
clear  thinker,  a  fine  debater,  and  an  exemplary  church  member. 
He  graduated  at  Franklin  College  in  1842,  and  was  regarded  by  the 
Faculty  as  a  young  man  of  much  promise.  In  the  Fall  of  the  same 
year  he  entered  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  where  he 
remained  until  he  finished  his  course;  after  which,  he  was  licensed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  June  11,  1845. 

The  remainder  of  the  Summer  was  spent  in  preaching  to  vacant 
r:.ngregations,  among  which   was  Montours,   to  which   he  was  called 


304  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES   OF   DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

and  in  which  he  was  ordained  and  installed  June  17,  1846.  There 
he  labored  with  great  acceptance  and  much  success,  until  January, 
1854,  when  he  was  dismissed  to  accept  a  call  to  the  2d  Presbyterian 
church,  Spruce  Creek,  Pa.  In  this  and  other  churches  of  Hunting- 
don Presbytery,  he  continued  to  preach  a  pure  and  precious  Gos- 
pel until  his  country's  cause  induced  him  to  exchange  the  rural 
parish  for  the  military  camp.  The  groans  of  mangled  heroes  after 
the  second  disaster  of  Bull  Run,  led  him  to  scenes  of  dreadful 
suffering ;  and  after  weeks  spent  in  soothing  the  wounded  and  min- 
istering to  the  souls  of  the  dying,  he  was  elected  Chaplain  to  the 
Sixth  Pennsylvania  Reserves,  September,  18G2.  With  this  regiment 
he  performed  many  wearisome  marches,  endured  incredible  hard- 
ships, and  confronted  the  enemy  on  many  a  battle  field.  When 
their  term  of  enlistment  expired  he  was  elected  Chaplain  of  the 
49th  Volunteers.  With  this  regiment  of  brave  men  he  marched 
from  the  Peninsula  to  the  defence  of  the  Capital,  through  the  Shen- 
andoah Valley,  in  all  the  victories  under  the  invincible  Sheridan  ; 
and  in  December,  1864,  came  home  to  spend  a  little  season  with 
his  family. 

After  enjoying  for  a  few  weeks  the  endearments  of  home,  he  bade 
farewell  to  his  friends,  and  in  February,  1865,  returned  to  the  seat 
of  war.  AVhen  he  returned  to  the  Potomac  army  he  found  many 
colored  regiments  without  chaplains,  and  his  long  cherished  sym- 
pathy for  that  oppressed  race  and  an  ardent  desire  to  do  good 
amongst  them,  induced  him  to  accept  a  chaplaincy  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Regiment,  United  States  Colored  Infantry. 
This  regiment  he  accompanied  through  the  Wilderness  to  the  storm- 
ing of  Petersburg  and  the  taking  of  Richmond,  and  was  among  the 
fh'st  to  enter  the  city.  After  peace  had  been  restored  and  veterans 
were  returning  home,  Mr.  Stevenson  still  remained  in  the  army, 
and  with  his  regiment  was  ordered  to  Texas,  June,  1865.  After 
many  perils  by  sea  and  much  sickness,  they  entered  the  estuary  of 
the  Rio  Grande,  and  under  a  sun  almost  tropical,  and  in  heat 
altogether  intolerable,  the  troops  disembarked  at  Brownsville.  There 
the  patience  and  faith,  the  piety  and  patriotism  of  the  chaplain 
were  subjected  to  the  severest  tests.  Sick  and  suffering  his  faith 
was  still  firm,  and  his  love  for  his  Master's  work  unabated. 

The  most  of  the  colored  troops  do  not  know  the  alphabet — they 
are  ignorant  of  what  are  the  first  principles  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ — 
and  so  with  the  spelling   book  in   one  hand   and  the   Bible  in   the 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES   OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  305 

other,  the  devoted  brother  carried  on  the  work  of  preaching  and 
teaching.  In  the  Spring  of  1866  his  regiment  was  ordered  to  King- 
gold  Barracks,  a  military  post  on  the  Rio  Grande.  Here  his  quarters 
were  more  comfortable,  his  prospects  for  usefulness  more  promising, 
and  here  his  labors  were  greatly  blessed.  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
came  down  upon  the  camp  with  converting  power.  The  chapel  is 
crowded  with  devout  worshippers,  and  more  than  three  hundred 
men  are  asking  what  they  must  do  to  be  saved. 

About  this  time  he  writes  home : — "  This  wonderful  work  of  God  f 
surpasses  in  depth,  in  extent,  and  in  power  all  I  have  before  wit- 
nessed." But  these  displays  of  divine  power  and  converting  grace 
were  preparing  the  way  for  the  coming  of  the  Lord  in  the  judg- 
ments which  soon  followed  in  the  fearful  ravages  of  Asiatic  cholera. 
In  October  this  destroyer  enters  the  ranks,  and  after  slaying  many, 
attacks  the  chaplain.  After  a  few  hours  of  terrible  suffering  the 
enemy  is  vanquished,  but  leaves  his  victim  utterly  prostrated.  The 
constitution  is  broken  and  the  physical  form  robbed  of  its  strength. 
In  hopes  that  a  change  of  location  might  prove  beneficial,  he  is  taken 
to  Brownsville,  where  he  meets  his  Lord  and  Master,  February  10. 
1867,  in  a  death  most  peaceful  and  triumphant.  The  state  of  his 
mind  during  these  months  of  sickness  and  suffering  may  be  learned 
from  letters  he  wrote  after  a  temporary  recovery.  In  one  to  his 
brother,  December  16,  he  writes : — "  I  may  never  see  my  beloved 
family  and  friends  in  Pennsylvania.  If  so,  the  will  of  the  Lord  be 
done.  I  am  not  afraid  to  die,  Ross.  I  have  had  delightful  times 
in  this  sick  room.  I  have  felt  so  happy  from  the  presence  of  Jesus, 
the  blessed  Saviour,  and  from  the  comforts  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  that 
it  required  an  effort  to  restrain  my  excited  feelings.  I  know  whom 
I  have  believed ;  and  should  I  die  in  this  half  civilized  land,  I  shall 
go  to  the  believer's  home  in  glory." 

In  a  letter  to  his  wife,  and  the  last  he  wrote,  January  23  and 
"24,  he  says  : — "  As  to  the  state  of  my  mind,  with  regard  to  which 
you  inquire,  I  can  say  it  was  calm,  peaceful  and  happy.  I  found 
it  was  a  solemn  thing  to  meet  God,  and  have  every  good  and  bad 
work  brought  into  judgment ;  but  I  knew  that  Jesus  was  my 
friend,  that  my  Redeemer  lives  in  glory,  and  having  taken  him  m- 
my  Almighty  Saviour,  I  felt  that  I  was  safe,  and  that  death  to  me 
would  be  gain.  There  were  several  Sabbaths  that  I  expected,  and 
indeed,  somewhat   desired,  that  on  the  next  Lord's  day  I  might  be 

39 


306  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES   OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

with  Jesus,  associating  with  angels  and  the  church  of  the  first  born, 
composed  as  it  is  of  some  whom  death  has  ruthlessly  but  briefly 
separated." 

Death  had  taken  from  him  the  wife  of  his  youth,  Miss  S.  A.  Plumer, 
of  West  Newton,  Westmoreland  county,  Pa.  Also  his  first  born  son, 
whose  life  was  terminated  by  disease  contracted  in  the  camp ;  and 
now  as  he  views  the  river,  he  has  a  blessed  prospect  of  a  re-union 
with  them,  which  is  to  last  forever  and  ever.  In  domestic  relations, 
Chaplain  Stevenson  was  exceedingly  blessed.  He  has  left  a  devoted 
and  interesting  family.  In  the  social  circle  his  conversational  powers 
shone  with  a  pleasing  lustre.  In  the  pulpit  he  was  edifying  and 
comforting,  his  sermons  full  of  the  marrow  of  divinity.  In  the 
camp  he  was  fearless  and  brave,  tender  and  kind,  true  to  his  adopted 
country  and  faithful  to  his  God.  He  fell  at  his  post  in  the  prime 
of  his  manhood  ;  he  died  full  of  faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  in 
the  grave  of  a  soldier  of  the  cross  he  sleeps  till  the  resurrection 
morn,    when   he   shall  hear   the  trumpet   call  of  his  dearest    Lord." 

Thus  far  the  memorial  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Stevenson  was  written 
by  his  brother  according  to  the  flesh,  and  at  the  same  time  a  brother 
in  the  ministry,  the  Rev.  Ross  Stevenson,  of  Corsica,  Clarion  county, 
Pa.  It  is  only  necessary  to  assure  the  reader  that  he  need  not  sus- 
pect any  exaggeration  on  the  account  of  the  relationship.  Much 
more  might  have  been  told  of  his  fidelity,  bravery,  and  popularity  as 
a  Chaplain.  As  to  his  character  as  a  preacher,  the  brother  has  been 
too  brief  and  modest.  He  was  one  of  the  most  acconrplished  and 
instructive  sermonizers  we  have  ever  listened  to;  and  had  it  not  been 
for  an  unfortunate  habit  he  had  somehow  contracted  in  the  delivery. 
of  pausing,  or  hesitating  on  the  last  syllable  of  every  word  of  three 
or  more  syllables  ending  a  sentence,  he  would  have  been  as  popular 
as  he  was  an  able  preacher.  It  required  the  hearer  to  be  a  person 
of  intelligence  and  a  lover  of  the  pure  Gospel,  fully  to  appreciate 
Mr.  Stevenson  as  a  preacher.  At  the  same  time  he  was  capable  of 
making  himself  fully  understood  by  the  plainest  hearer.  No  army 
Chaplain  had  a  fairer  record  for  efficiency  and  acceptability. 


REV.  JAS.S.ORBISON 


REV.  JAMES  H.   ORBISON. 


T 


JAMES  H.  ORBISON  was  born  'at  Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania, 
March  23,  1826.  He  was  tlie  youngest  son  of  William  Orbison. 
Sr.,  Esq.  His  parents  both  being  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  he  was  brought  up  under  the  strictest  religious  influence. 
From  his  earliest  youth  he  was  noted  for  his  sedate  and  orderly  habits. 
Besides  the  advantage  of  very  godly  and  intelligent  parents,  he 
enjoyed  the  privilege  during  all  his  early  life  of  sitting  under  the 
ministry  of  that  amiable,  excellent,  and  eminently  godly  minister,  the 
Rev.  John  Peebles.  At  what  age  he  became  a  communicating  mem- 
ber of  the  Church  is  not  known,  ^but  it  was  early  in  life.  He  grad- 
uated in  Jefferson  College  in  1846,  and  studied  theology  at  Princeton 
Seminary.  In  June,  1850,  he  was  licensed,  and  as  he  had  devoted 
himself  to  the  work  of  Foreign  Missions,  he  was  ordained  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Huntingdon  at  the  same  meeting.  The  Presbytery  met  on 
tl  is  occasion  in  the  town  of  Huntingdon,  the  place  of  his  birth,  and 
the  residence  of  his  parents,  then  living.  In  August  following  he 
sailed  for  India  as  a  missionary  under  the  care  of  the  Board  of  Mis- 
sions of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  At  the  time  he  left  for  India  he 
was  unmarried,  but  married  in  India  Miss  Agnes  Campbell  Kay,  a 
native  of  Scotland,  who  died  only  a  few  months  after  their  union. 

In  the  year  1858  he  returned  to  this  country,  and  was  married  a 
second  time  to  Miss  Nannie  Harris  of  Bellefonte,  Pa.,  and  with  her 
returned  immediately  to  his  field  of  labor  in  India.  More  than  ten 
years  after  this  he  returned  with  his  wife  and  four  children  to  this 
country,  hoping  to  resume  his  labors  among  the  heathen,  after 
recruiting  his  health,  and  providing  for  the  education  of  his  children. 
He  arrived  at  Huntingdon  on  the  25th  of  March.  On  the  19th  of 
April,  1869,  he  entered  into  rest  at  Bellefonte,  after  an  illness  of  less 
than    forty-eight    hours.     The    Presbytery    of    Huntingdon    held    its 


308  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

stated  Spring  meeting  at  Perrysville,  Juniata  county,  on  the  2d 
Tuesday  of  April,  at  which  meeting  Mr.  Orbison  was  present,  and 
delivered  a  most  interesting  and  satisfactory  address  on  the  subject  of 
his  mission,  and  on  India  in  general ;  and  the  intelligence  of  his  death 
reached  the  members  of  the  Presbytery  immediately  on  their  return 
from  the  meeting.  He  was  a  young  minister  of  very  respectable  tal- 
ents, substantial  accomplishments,  and  devoted  piety.  He  was  natu- 
rally of  a  very  amiable  and  quiet  disposition,  and  held  the  respect 
and  love  of  all  his  acquaintance.  His  sudden  death  was  both  a  sur- 
prise and  grief  to  the  members  of  the  Presbytery.  Above  all,  they 
grieved  that  the  foreign  field  should  have  been  deprived  so  soon  of  so 
devoted  and  competent  a  laborer. 


REV.  JAMES  NOURSE. 


T 


JAMES  NOURSE  was  born  in  Washington  City,  D.  C,  April  30, 
1805,  second  son  of  Michael  Nourse  and  Mary  Rittenhouse. 
He  received  the  rudiments  of  his  classical  and  mathematical  educa- 
tion under  the  instruction  of  the  Rev.  Jamas  Carnahan,  D.  D.,  in 
Georgetown,  D.  C.  He  pursued  and  consummated  his  college  course 
under  the  paternal  care  of  Dr.  M.  Brown  of  Jefferson  College,  Canons 
burg,  Pa.,  and  shortly  afterward,  for  further  instruction,  attended 
during  one  year  at  Dickinson  College,  when  Dr.  John  M.  Mason  was 
president  of  that  institution.  There  he  made  a  profession  of  religion, 
united  with  the  church  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Duffield,  and 
determined  to  devote  himself  to  the  service  of  God  in  the  ministry. 
He  pursued  his  theological  studies  at  Princeton,  was  licensed  by  the 
Presbytery  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  after  engaging  for  a  few 
months  in  the  service  of  the  colonization  cause  in  the  southern  states. 
accepted  an  invitation  to  preach  as  a  supply  to  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  Germantown,  Pa.  He  preached  in  Germantown  for  about 
eighteen  months,  and  whilst  residing  there  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
North  Harvey,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Harvey  of  that  place. 
After  leaving  Germantown  he  preached  for  a  short  time  at  Taneytown. 
Maryland,  and  then  accepted  a  call  from  the  church  of  East  Kishaco- 
quillas,  in  Huntingdon  Presbytery.  Of  this  church  he  was  the  effi 
cient  pastor  for  three  years,  when,  owing  to  the  trouble  arising  from 
the  agitation  of  the  temperance  and  anti-slavery  causes — of  both  of 
which  he  was  a  zealous  advocate — he  resigned  that  charge,  and 
removed  to  Williamsport  in  Western  Pennsylvania,  from  whence,  in  a 
few  months,  he  was  called  to  the  then  recently  organized  church  of  Per 
ryville,  (now  Milroy,)  of  which  he  was  installed  the  first  pastor  in  Oc- 
tober, 1834.  In  that  congregation  he  preached  for  fifteen  years-to  a 
sympathizing  and  attached  people.     His  labors  were  incessant,  he  was 


310  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES   OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

especially  active  in  the  cause  of  temperance  and  of  the  abolition  of 
slavery  ;  and  both  in  the  pulpit  and  through  the  press  he  was  the 
earnest  and  able  advocate  of  both  these  causes,  at  a  period  when  such 
advocacy  exposed  him  to  much  obloquy  and  reproach.  But  the  great 
theme  of  his  preaching  was  Christ  Jesus,  the  divine  Saviour,  and  sal- 
vation through  him ;  and  the  blessing  of  God  was  upon  his  labors,  as 
many  precious  souls  were,  through  his  instrumentality,  brought  to  a 
knowledge  of  the  Saviour.  In  the  Autumn  and  Winter  of  1842-3 
especially,  the  church  and  congregation  were  visited  with  the  gracious 
presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  an  extensive  revival  of  religion,  as  the 
result  of  which  about  130  persons  were  added  to  the  church,  doubling 
its  membership,  and  greatly  increasing  the  spirtuality  and  piety  of  its 
members  ;  nor  were  the  benefits  of  this  revival  confined  to  the  church 
and  congregation,  the  whole  community  was  elevated  and  perma- 
nently improved  in  its  moral  and  religious  character.  During  the 
fifteen  years  of  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Nourse  at  Milroy  there  were 
added  to  the  church  there  330  members,  an  average  of  twenty-two  for 
each  year.  His  history  is  that  of  an  accurate  and  laborious  scholar, 
an  humble  and  devoted  Christian,  and  a  faithful  minister  of  the  Gos- 
pel. Besides  performing  the  duties  belonging  to  his  pastoral  charge 
he  edited  the  Paragraph  Bible  with  great  care  and  labor,  wrote  several 
valuable  tracts,  prepared  for  the  press  a  critical  Commentary  upon 
the  Epistle  to  the  Galatians,  also  an  abridgement  of  Lowth's  Lectures 
on  Hebrew  Poetry.  In  1849  he  relinquished  his  position  as  a  pastor 
on  account  of  a  bronchial  affection,  under  which  he  had  long  labored, 
and  removed  to  Washington  City,  where  in  1850  he  became  the  prin- 
cipal of  Central  Academy,  in  which  capacity  he  continued  to  labor 
with  great  earnestness  and  fidelity  till  near  the  time  of  his  death. 

For  several  months  before  this  event  took  place  he  felt  that  his 
health  was  sufficiently  restored  to  justify  him  in  seeking  another 
pastoral  charge.  His  heart  longed  for  the  work  of  a  pastor,  and  for 
the  privilege  of  again  preaching  Christ,  and  his  eyes  were  turned  to 
the  great  Valley  of  the  Mississippi  as  the  field  of  his  future  labors  in 
the  ministry.  In  the  latter  part  of  June,  1854,  he  left  his  family  and 
friends  in  Washington  to  visit  the  south-eastern  part  of  Iowa,  expect- 
ing, if  Providence  should  favor  his  plans  and  hopes,  to  remove  there 
in  the  Fall.  But  God  had  not  so  ordered.  He  went  to  Iowa  to  die. 
He  reached  Salem  on  the  evening  of  the  4th  of  July,  and  complained 
of  feeling  very  unwell.     The  next  morning  a  physician  was  called. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES   OK    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  '■)]] 

who  informed  him  that  his  disease  was  cholera.  Prompt  and  appro- 
priate remedies  were  administered,  but  to  no  purpose.  He  continued 
to  sink  under  tins  dreadful  malady,  and  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening 
life  was  extinguished,  and  his  spirit  passed  away. 

•'  Servant  of  God,  well  done! 

Rest  from  thy  loved  employ, 
The  battle  o'er  the  victory  won 

Enter  thy  Master's  joy." 

The  congregation  of  Perryville,  which  he  had  served  so  long  and  so 
well,  as  soon  as  it  was  possible,  sent  a  committee  of  its  members  to 
raise  the  body  and  convey  it  to  their  own  cemetery,  and  rebury  it 
among  their  dead,  and  his  own  dead,  in  shadow  of  the  church  build- 
ing in  which  he  had  so  often  ministered;  there  to  rest  till  the  resur- 
rection of  the  just. 


REV.  SAMUEL  HILL. 


REV.  SAMUEL  HILL  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  near  the 
town  of  Newton- Limavady,  County  Derry,  in  1791.  His  educa- 
tion preparatory  to  entering  the  University  of  Glasgow,  was  obtained 
near  his  father's  home.  His  parents  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  faithful  and  conscientious  in  training  their  children  in  the 
Catechisms  and  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith,  and  more  than 
ordinarily  intelligent  on  religious  subjects.  When  Samuel  connected 
himself  with  the  church  is  not  now  known,  but  it  must  have  been  at 
an  early  age,  as  he  entered  the  University  of  Glasgow  at  the  age  of 
fifteen,  as  a  student,  with  a  view  to  the  ministry.  He  continued  in 
the  University  for  four  years,  passing  through  the  various  classes  with 
the  decided  approbation  of  all  the  professors  and  great  credit  to 
himself.  Each  professor,  as  he  passed  from  his  class,  certified  to 
his  diligence  in  study  and  eminent  progress;  and  also  to  the  excel- 
lence of  his  moral  character.  These  certificates  are  now  to  be 
seen  in  the  possession  of  his  family ;  and  his  Diploma  is  signed  by 
not  less  than  fifteen  names  of  eminent  professors  in  the  various 
branches  of  a  University  education  ;  men  even  yet  renowned  through- 
out the  literary  and  religious  world.  He  graduated  in  April,  1810. 
Soon  after  his  return  from  the  University  he  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  Gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Route.  He  studied  Theology  at 
Glasgow,  which  was  then,  and  probably  is  yet,  a  branch  of  the  reg- 
ular college  studies,  in  the  case  of  those  who  were  designed  for 
the  ministry.  He  was  licensed  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-one. 
\fter  preaching  some  time  in  his  native  country,  supplying  vacan- 
cies by  the  appointment  of  Presbytery,  he  resolved  to  emigrate  to 
America.  Before  this,  however,  he  had  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Wil- 
son, the  daughter  of  a  "well-to-do"  farmer  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  his  father's  residence. 


y* 


*jr&"  ■£*»** 


i'P: 


REV.  SAM  U  EL  HILL. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  313 

He  sailed  from  Londonderry  in  April,  1819,  and  landed  at  St. 
John's,  New  Brunswick,  one  of  the  British  provinces  of  North 
Amerca,  after  the  usual  passage.  He  preached  for  eight  months 
at  Sheffield,  a  town  near  to  St.  John's,  and  might  have  been  perma- 
nently settled  there,  but  before  his  arrival  the  congregation  had  sent 
to  Ireland  for  a  minister  whose  coming  they  were  awaiting.  In  May, 
1S20,  Mr.  Hill  arrived  in  Philadelphia,  the  General  Assembly  being 
then  in  session  in  that  city.  He  made  the  acquaintance  of  the  venera- 
ble and  Rev.  Geo.  C.  Potts,  pastor  of  the  4th  Presbyterian  church,  and 
a  countryman  of  his  own,  to  whom  he  showed  his  testimonials  ;  and 
the  church  of  East  Kishacoquillas  having  just  become  vacant  by  the 
death  of  its  pastor — the  Rev.  James  Johnston — by  the  advice  of  Mr. 
Potts  he  visited  the  congregation.  Having  preached  there  with  great 
acceptance  till  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  October,  he  applied 
to  be  received  as  a  licentiate  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery,  and 
although  the  congregations  of  East  Kishacoquillas  and  Little  Valley 
were  prepared  to  give  him  a  call,  it  could  not  be  put  into  his  hands, 
he  not  having  completed  the  term  of  probation  prescribed  by  the 
General  Assembly  for  foreign  ministers ;  but  he  was  appointed  the 
stated  supply  of  those  congregations  till  the  next  meeting  of  the 
Presbytery,  at  which  time  arrangements  were  made  for  his  ordina- 
tion and  installation  at  the  following  meeting,  when  the  term  of  his 
probation  would  have  expired.  The  Presbytery  made  this  arrange- 
ment in  view  of  the  urgency  of  the  congregations  to  have  Mr.  Hill 
permanently  settled  amongst  them,  though  the  testimonials  of  Mr. 
Hill  had  not  formally  passed  the  inspection  of  Synod.  The  year  of 
probation  had  expired  before  the  Fall  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  at 
which  time  arrangements  were  made  for  the  ordination  and  installa- 
tion ;  but  the  Synod  did  not  meet  till  later  in  the  month.  For  this, 
on  a  review  of  the  minutes,  exceptions  was  taken  by  the  Synod.  But 
the  Presbytery  knew  that  the  testimonials  of  Mr.  Hill  were  so  full 
and  satisfactory  that  the  Synod  would  and  could  have  no  objections 
to  his  reception,  and,  therefore,  did  not  wait  the  formal  approval  of 
Synod.  However  Mi».  Hill  was  not  actually  ordained  and  installed 
till  after  his  papers  had  been  approved  by  the  Synod  ;  they  only 
made  arrangements  to  this  end,  confident  that  testimonials  so  satis- 
factory could  not  fail  to  be  approved  by  the  Synod. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that,  before  this  time  and  afterwards,  the 
Presbyteries  had  been  often  imposed  upon  by  forged  and  partial  testi- 

40 


314  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

monials  of  foreign  ministers,  who  had  left  their  countries  under  cen- 
sure— either  being  suspended  or  deposed  from  the  ministry,  or  who 
would  have  been,  had  they  not  fled  from  discipline ;  it  was  exceed- 
ingly refreshing  to  the  members  of  the  Presbytery  to  find  a  foreign 
minister  so  fully  and  unquestionably  recommended,  and  they  were 
disposed  to  signalize  it  by  showing  every  readiness  to  receive  the  appli- 
cant, and  conceding  mere  formalities.  They  would  show  that  their 
opposition  was  not  to  foreign  ministers,  but  to  foreign  ministers  with- 
out character. 

Mr.  Hill  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  congregations  of 
East  Kishacoquillas  and  Little  Valley,  October  3,  1821. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  testimonials  of  Mr.  Hill  will 
satisfy  all  reasonable  persons  that  the  Presbytery  was  not  too  hasty 
in  its  action,  or  inconsiderate.  The  first  extract  is  from  the  formal 
certificate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ronte  ;  the  second,  from  the  collateral 
evidence,  from  individual  ministers  and  members  of  the  Synod  of 
Ulster : 

"  Since  the  time  he  (Mr.  Hill)  obtained  license  he  has  preached 
within  the  hounds  of  our  Presbytery,  in  a  manner  highly  acceptable, 
both  to  us  and  to  the  people — that  his  acquirements  in  general  knowledge 
are  very  considerable — that  his  character  as  a  private  christian  has  uni- 
formly stood  high,  his  conduct  having  been  exemplary  and  becoming  the 
Gospel  ;  and  as  he  has  now  formed  a  resolution  of  emigrating  to  the 
United  States  of  America,  we  do  hereby  recommend  him  to  the  attention 
and  patronage  of  any  society  of  christians  to  which  he  may  think  fit  to 
annex  himself.      Signed : 

John  Patterson,  Mod'r  Presbj'tery  of  Ronte. 
James  Brown,  Clerk  of  Presbytery. 
R.  Rentoul,  Minister  of  Ballykelly. 
Richard  Dill,  Minister  of  Drumacose. 
J.  Whiteside,  of  Colraine. 
Samuel  Butler,  Minister  of  Magilligan." 
This  extract  includes  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hill  : 

"  They  leave  this  country  with  the  fairest  characters,  and  we  whose  names 
are  hereto  annexed,  have  no  hesitation  in  recommending  them  as  persons 
deserving  the  patronage  and  attention  of  those  with  whom  in  any  depart- 
ment of  life  they  may  hereafter  be  connected." 

William  Porter,  Presb.  Minister,  Newton-Limavady. 
Richard  Dill,  Drumacose. 
Marcus  Dill,  M.  D.,  Ballykelly. 
John  Ross. 
Newton-Limavady,  June  3,  1819." 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  315 

Mr.  Hill  continued  to  be  the  pastor  of  East  Kishacoquillas  and 
Little  Valley  congregations  till  February  6,  1825,  when  at  his  request 
and  with  reluctant  consent  of  the  congregations,  the  pastoral  rela- 
tion was  dissolved  to  enable  him  to  accept  of  a  call  from  the  1st 
Associate  Reformed  congregation  of  Pittsburg.  His  ministry  in  East 
Kishacoquillas  was  very  successful  while  he  continued  with  that 
charge.  Large  accessions  were  made  to  the  church.  The  first  year  of 
his  incumbency  he  received  to  the  communion  of  the  church  upwards 
of  one  hundred  persons,  and  this  as  the  result  of  the  ordinary  ministry 
of  the  word,  no  extra  services  more  than  those  usually  had  on  com- 
munion occasions.  The  greatest  mistake  of  Mr.  Hill's  life  was  made 
when  he  left  this  charge  to  accept  of  the  call  to  the  church  in  the 
city  of  Pittsburg. 

Mr.  Hill  removed  to  Pittsburg,  but  did  not  remain  to  be  installed 
over  the  congregation  which  had  called  him,  but  returned  within 
the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  and  we  find  him  in 
the  Fall  of  1825,  present  at  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  and 
invited  as  a  member  of  the  Associate  Reformed  Presbytery  of  Monon- 
gahela,  to  sit  as  a  corresponding  member. 

We  do  not  know  that  we  are  fully  'aware  of  the  reasons  inducing 
Mr.  Hill  so  suddenly  to  leave  the  congregation  at  Pittsburg,  and 
before  his  installation  ;  but  certainly  it  was  better  to  leave  before 
than  soon  afterwards,  and  the  mistake  may  have  been  in  not  con- 
sulting the  Presbytery.  Mr.  Hill  was  always  a  decided  temperance 
advocate.  Too  many  of  the  congregation  were  engaged  in  the  liquor 
traffic,  members  of  the  church,  and  that  in  its  most  objectionable 
and  inconsistent  forms.  Concerning  the  iniquity  he  could  not 
consistently  or  conscientiously  hold  this  peace,  and  foreseeing  the 
uproar  that  would  follow,  thought  it  more  prudent  for  him  to  retire. 
Such  was  the  state  of  public  sentiment  at  that  time  on  the  subject, 
that  no  one  man  could  hope  to  stem  the  torrent.  At  this  day  that 
congregation  would  be  fully  in  accordance  with  Mr.  Hill  on  the 
subject  of  temperance.     But  it  was  not  so  then. 

However,  the  Associate  Reformed  Presbytery  was  offended,  and 
refused  Mr.  Hill  a  certificate  of  dismission  to  rejoin  the  Presbytery 
of  Huntingdon  ;  and  thus  the  case  remained  till  April,  1827.  In 
the  meantime  he  was  engaged  in  supplying  the  congregations  of 
Spruce  Creek  and  Sinking  Valley  which  were  very  desirous  to  give 
him    a    call    and    have  him    for    their  pastor.     At    the    time    above 


316  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES   OF   DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

referred  to.  the  Presbytery  believing  that  something  ought  to  be 
done  to  relieve  Mr.  Hill  from  the  difficulties  under  which  he  labored, 
passed  the  following  minute  : 

Whereas,  this  Presbytery  has  credible  evidence  from  verbal  testimony, 
that  some  of  the  members  of  the  Monongahela  Presbytery  have  con- 
sidered Mr.  Hill  for  sometime  past  as  not  amenable  to  them ;  and  whereas, 
the  Moderator  and  Clerk  of  the  Monongahela  Presbytery  have  certified 
that  his  conduct,  while  within  their  bounds,  was  exemplary  and  orderly, 
except  in  the  manner  of  his  departure  from  the  congregation  of  Pitts- 
burg, &c,  &c;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Samuel  Hill  be  received  as  a  member  of 
this  Presbytery. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  succeeding  this  calls  were  pre- 
sented from  Sinking  Valley  and  Spruce  Creek  for  the  pastoral  services 
of  Mr.  Hill;  which  he  accepted,  and  he  was  installed  over  these  con- 
gregations, Oqtober  11,  1827. 

Mr.  Hill  continued  in  these  united  congregations  till  June  16, 
1835,  when,  at  his  request  and  with  the  consent  of  the  congregation, 
he  was  released  from  Sinking  Valley,  but  continued  for  some  years 
afterwards  to  be  the  pastor  of  Spruce  Creek  and  the  stated  supply 
of  Birmingham,  a  congregation  which  a  short  time  before  had  been 
organized  by  Mr.  Hill  by  appointment  of  Presbytery.  In  October, 
1843,  his  pastoral  relation  to  Spruce  Creek  was,  at  his  request,  dis- 
solved, and  he  removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Pittsburg.  He  served  the 
congregation  of  McKeesport  as  a  stated  supply  for  two  years ;  and 
Saltsburg,  Blairsville  Presbytery,  for  a  short  time,  when  he  returned 
within  the  bourkls  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  and  became  the 
stated  supply  of  East  Freedom  and  Martinsburg.  which  he  served  in 
that  capacity  for  nine  or  ten  years  ;  and  afterwards  was  for  four  years 
the  supply  of  the  congregation  of  Shavers  Creek.  This  closed  the 
active  labors  of  Mr.  Hill  in  the  ministry  in  connection  with  a  congre- 
gation. He  continued  to  live  in  retirement  in  the  family  of  his 
youngest  son.  He  died  at  Hollidaysburg  after  a  short  sickness,  on 
the  14th  of  March,  1872,  in  the  81st  year  of  his  age.  Three  sons  and 
one  daughter  survive  him.  Mrs.  Hill  died  several  years  before  him, 
while  residing  with  their  son,  then  living  in  East  Kishacoquillas 
Valley. 

Mr.  Hill  was  an  able  and  accomplished  minister  of  the  New  Tes- 
tament.    His   preparatory  education  was    of    the    most    substantial 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES   OF   DECEASED    MEMBERS.  317 

character.  He  did  not  enter  the  ministry  till  he  had  passed  through 
all  the  usual  parts  of  a  thorough  literary  and  theological  education, 
with  the  eminent  approbation  of  his  teachers ;  and  he  was  a  close 
student  and  an  immense  reader  all  his  life.  A  few  weeks  before 
his  death  he  completed  the  reading  of  two  volumes  of  Dr.  Hodge's 
Systematic  Theology,  and  could  give  a  verbal  statement  of  their  eon- 
tents  on  every  subject  of  which  they  treat ;  and  any  points  of  which 
he  doubted,  or  in  any  respect  differed  from  the  author.  (For  he  was 
no  blind  reader,  and  yielded  to  no  authority,  however  eminent,  but 
the  Word  of  God.)  By  continued  application  to  study,  and  constant 
exercise  of  his  faculties,  he  retained  his  mental  powers  to  the  very 
last.  While  his  limbs  were  tremulous  with  age  no  man  could  detect 
the  least  decay  in  his  mental  faculties.  We  do  not  recollect  that 
he  expressed  any  substantial  difference  from  Dr.  Hodge's  views  on 
any  subject  save  one ;  and  we  know  that  Dr.  Hodge,  as  a  theologian, 
stood  as  high  as  any  other  man  in  his  estimation. 

Mr.  Hill  was  a  thoroughly  read  theologian,  and  zealously  attached 
to  the  Calvinistic  System  of  Theology,  and  never  failed  to  preach 
in  accordance  with  it  on  all  occasions.  He  was  at  the  same  time 
a  zealous  practical  preacher.  He  was  by  no  means  a  neutral  or 
negative  character.  He  stood  up  for  the  truth  in  doctrine  and  in 
practice  at  all  times  and  at  all  hazards.  Had  he  lived  in  persecu- 
ting times,  he  would  have  been  a  martyr.  Had  it  not  been  for  his 
strictness  in  doctrine  and  discipline  he  would  have  been  one  of  the 
most  popular  preachers  of  the  part  of  country  in  which  he  served  ; 
for  he  was  not  only  a  learned  but  an  eloquent  preacher.  He  was 
accustomed  in  the  land  of  his  birth,  and  the  country  of  his  theo- 
logical education,  to  hear  long  sermons ;  at  least,  what  the  people 
would  now  consider  unreasonably  long;  and  this  was  the  chief  fault 
we  have  ever  heard  an  orthodox  man  or  a  christian  find  with  Mr. 
Hill's  preaching.  To  the  inquiry — "  What  was  the  character  of  Mr. 
Hill's  preaching?"  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  the  reply  would  be  : 
"  His  sermons  were  long,  but  we  never  became  wearied  or  flagged  in 
our  attention."  He  was  a  very  instructive  preacher.  That  Mr.  Hill 
had  enemies  may  be  inferred  from  his  character — his  was  no  negative 
character;  but  a  consequence  of  this  also  was,  that  he  had  warm 
friends.  The  private  character  of  Mr.  Hill  was  often  very  much 
mistaken.  Persons  supposed  that  a  man  so  uncompromising  in  doc- 
trine and  discipline,  must  be  a  very   sour  and  morose  man  in  private 


318  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES   OF   DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

life.  On  the  contrary,  he  was  one  of  the  most  condescending,  cour- 
teous and  hospitable  of  men.  He  was  a  most  pleasant  and  cheerful 
companion  with  young  and  old,  with  men  and  women ;  very  readily 
approached,  and  most  conciliating  in  his  manners. 

With  all  his  talents  and  attainments,  he  was  a  very  modest  man. 
En  Presbytery  or  other  church  courts  he  was  not  forward  in  express- 
ing his  views.  He  seldom  spoke,  only  in  regard  to  important  sub- 
jects, and  then  never  long.  He  seemed  to  have  more  humble  views 
of  himself  than  friend  or  enemy  ever  entertained.  Of  his  last  sick- 
ness it  is  unnecessary  to  speak,  it  was  short  and  his  end  was  peaceful ; 
as  long  as  he  was  able  to  speak  he  expressed  his  confidence  in  the 
doctrines  he  had  preached,  and  his  unshaken  trust  in  that  Saviour  he 
had  recommended  to  others.  His  afflictions  during  life  had  been 
many  and  at  times  severe;  in  frequent  personal  sickness,  the  death 
of  wife  and  children,  and  otherwise  ;  but  now  they  are  all  ended, 
and  he  with  his  Master  in  glory. 


REV.  GEORGE  GRAY. 


IT  is  to  be  regretted  that  so  little  is  now  known  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  Of  his  parentage  and  early  life  nothing  is  now 
known,  save  that  he  was  a  native  of  the  North  of  Ireland.  He  was 
licensed  and  ordained  by  the  Congregational  Association  of  Ireland  in 
1810.  Where  he  obtained  his  literary  and  theological  education, 
whether  in  Ireland,  England,  or  Scotland,  is  not  known.  When  he 
came  to  this  country  is  also  unknown.  The  first  certain  information 
we  have  respecting  him  is  derived  from  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Huntingdon,  under  date  of  October  4,  1825,  when  he  was  received 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland.  At  the  same  time  calls 
were  presented  to  Presbytery  for  his  pastoral  services  from  the  united 
congregations  of  Upper  Tuscarora  and  Aughwick.  The  same  season 
he  was  installed  pastor  of  the  above  congregations  by  a  committee  of 
Presbytery. 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  October  3,  1843,  Mr.  Grey 
resigned  the  charge  of  the  congregation  of  Aughwich  ;  and  in  the  Fall 
of  1849  his  pastoral  relation  to  Upper  Tuscarora  was  dissolved  at  his 
own  request,  on  account  of  ill  health. 

Mr.  Gray  held  the  charge  of  the  congregation  of  Aughwick  for 
eighteen  years,  and  it  is  believed  that  the  cause  of  his  resignation  at 
the  time  was  a  fall  from  his  horse,  which  had  so  seriously  crippled 
him  as  to  incapacitate  him  to  serve  between  two  congregations,  whose 
houses  of  worship  were  twelve  miles  apart.  He  served  the  congrega- 
tion of  Upper  Tuscarora  for  twenty-four  years,  with  general  accep- 
tance. After  the  resignation  of  his  charge,  Mr.  Gray  was  unable  to 
preach  much,  if  any  at  all,  though  he  lived  several  years  afterwards. 
He  died  in  the  Summer  of  1857,  being  more  than  three  score  and  ten 
years  old. 


320  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES   OF    DECEASED   MEMBERS. 

Mr.  Gray  was  in  person  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  height,  and 
became  quite  corpulent  as  lie  advanced  in  years.  In  regard  to  his 
character  as  a  citizen,  a  christian,  and  a  minister,  he  died  without  a 
blemish.  As  to  his  qualifications  as  a  preacher,  without  any  definite 
knowledge  on  the  subject,  it  may  be  reasonably  inferred  that  they 
were  quite  respectable,  from  the  length  of  time  he  served  acceptably 
his  congregations.  Mr.  Gray  was  not  married  till  after  his  settlement 
in  Tusearora  Valley.     His  widow  and  several  children  survived  him. 


REV.  ALBERT   B.   CLARKE, 

AND 

REV.  JOHN  H.  CLARKE. 

THE  persons  whose  names  head  this  sketch  were  brothers.     Their 
parents   were  residents   of    Schellsburg,    Bedford   county,    Pa. 
where  both  were  born;  Albert  B.,  July  14,  1817,  and  John  Henry' 
November  29,  1831. 

Albert  spent  the  first  year  of  his  college  course  at  South  Hanover 
College,  Indiana,  but  graduated  at  Dickinson  College,  Carlisle,  Pa. 

John  pursued  his  studies  preparatory  for  college  in  Legonier  Valley, 
and  graduated  at  Jefferson  College  in  1852.  Both  pursued  and  com- 
pleted their  theological  studies  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary. 
Allegheny,  Pa. 

Albert  B.  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  April,  1841, 
and  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Blairsville,  January,  1842,  having 
accepted  a  call  from  the  congregation  of  Legonier,  within  the  bounds 
of  said  Presbytery. 

In  the  Fall  of  1854  he  received  and  accepted  a  call  from  the  Pres- 
byterian congregation  of  Altoona,  Huntingdon  Presbytery.  He  con- 
tinued the  pastor  of  this  church  till  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1863. 

John  II.  Clarke  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio  in  1857. 
In  1858  he  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  and  installed 
pastor  of  the  churches  of  Landisburg,  Centre,  and  Upper,  Perry 
county,  Pa.  He  continued  to  be  the  pastor  of  these  churches  for 
about  five  years,  when  the  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved,  as 
believed,  on  account  of  failing  health;  as  he  spent  the  year  after  hi- 
resignation  of  the  charge  mostly  in  Altoona  among  his  friends  with- 
out any  pastoral  charge.  In  1865  he  became  the  stated  supply  of  the 
congregations  of  Tyrone  and  Birmingham,  in  the  Presbytery  of  Hunt- 
ingdon. Two  years  after  he  received  a  formal  call,  and  was  installed 
11 


322  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

pastor  of  these  churches.  This  charge  he  continued  to  serve  as  his 
health  would  permit  till  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1870,  when  the 
Lord  took  him  from  all  his  earthly  labors  and  sorrows.  He  died  of 
pulmonary  disease  on  the  23d  day  of  September,  1870,  in  the  39th 
year  of  his  age.  His  health  had  been  failing  for  several  years  before 
his  death.  All  the  usual  means  had  been  employed  to  arrest  the 
progress  of  the  disease,  the  physician's  skill,  occasional  cessation  from 
pulpit  labors,  and  change  of  climate;  but  all  in  vain.  He  was  a  good 
preacher,  an  excellent  pastor,  a  valuable  presbyter,  and  an  amiable 
man.  Both  brothers  died  of  the  same  disease,  and  were  much 
lamented  at  their  death ;  and  both  died  comparatively  young,  and 
while  yet  many  years  of  service  in  the  ministry  might  have  been 
expected  from  them. 


-  "V^1"- %,     ■•% 


REV.DAVID   STERRETT. 


REV.  DAVID   STERRETT. 


MR.  STERRETT  was  born  near  Mt.  Joy,  Lancaster  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  the  year  1800.  His  parents  were  members  of  the 
Donegal  Presbyterian  church.  His  father  was  a  farmer  in  com- 
fortable worldly  circumstances.  His  mother  was  a  lady  of  devoted 
piety,  by  whom  he  was  carefully  and  religiously  trained  in  his 
youth.  As  the  result  of  careful  religious  instruction,  with  the 
blessings  of  God,  he  early  became  a  communicating  member  of  the 
church  of  Donegal,  of  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kerr  was  then  Pastor. 
Having  turned  his  attention  to  the  ministry,  he  pursued  his  academ- 
ical course  at  Newburg,  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  and  from  thenee 
passed  into  Jefferson  College,  where  he  graduated  in  1827,  in  a  class 
numbering  thirty-two ;  out  of  which  nearly  one-half  afterwards 
became  ministers  of  the  Gospel.  In  1832  he  completed  his  theologi- 
cal course  at  Princeton  Seminary,  and  the  same  year  was  licensed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle.  In  1834  he  received  a  call  from 
Shavers  Creek  congregation,  in  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Huntingdon,  to  which  he  was  transferred  as  an  ordained  minister. 
When  ordained,  and  why  ordained  sine  titulo,  we  do  not  know ;  but 
Shavers  Creek  was  his  first  pastoral  charge,  in  which  he  was  installed 
by  a  committee  of  Presbytery  on  the  30th  of  May,   1834. 

He  served  this  congregation  for  fourteen  years,  his  pastoral  rela- 
tion to  it  being  dissolved  at- his  own  request  in  1848.  This  was  a 
large  congregation,  having  three  places  of  preaching,  Manor  Hill 
being  the  centre,  and  Shavers  Creek  Bridge  on  the  south,  and  Stone 
Valley  on  the  north,  each  being  six  miles  from  the  centre.  It  was 
in  some  respects  a  laborious  charge;  and  not  from  any  serious  dis- 
satisfaction on  the  part  of  the  people,  but  rather  from  failing 
health,  he  was  induced  to  seek  a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  rela- 
tion ;  and  with  a  view  to  greater  advantages  for  the  education  of 
his  children.     If  he  had  any  more  difficulties   in   this  charge   in  tin- 


324  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  DECEASED  MEMBERS. 

discharge  of  his  pastoral  duties,  than  ordinarily  falls  to  the  lot  of 
every  faithful  minister,  they  arose  from  his  decided  advocacy  of  the 
temperance  reformation,  and  the  faithful  application  of  the  discipline 

of  the  church. 

* 

In  the  Fall  of  1849  he  received  and  accepted  a  call  from  the 
united  churches  of  Waynesburg  (McVeytown)  and  Newton  Ham- 
ilton ;  and  was  installed  their  pastor  in  the  beginning  of  the  year 
1850.  He  served  these  congregations  faithfully  and  acceptably  for 
six  years.  Perhaps  we  may  say  that  these  were  the  most  successful 
years  of  his  ministerial  life.  During  these  six  years  one  hundred  and 
sixty-one  were  added  to  the  church  on  examination  ;  and  in  one  of 
these  years  seventy-five. 

At  the  close  of  this  term,  his  health  having  materially  failed, 
he  sought  a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation ;  and  never  after- 
wards sought  for,  or  accepted  a  pastoral  charge.  But  he  did  not 
abandon  the  service  of  the  ministry ;  he  continued  often  and  stated- 
ly to  preach.  He  allowed  himself  but  few  silent  Sabbaths,  either 
preaching  for  the  brethren  or  supplying  vacant  churches  when  in 
ordinary  health.  His  rest  consisted  chiefly  in  being  freed  from  the 
responsibility  of  a  pastoral  charge,  and  the  laborious  preparations 
from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath. 

During  his  residence  in  McVeytown  he  was  called  to  experience 
the  greatest  affliction  of  his  life,  as  personal  and  family.  His  only 
son,  a  boy  of  eight  or  ten  years  of  age,  was  drowned  in  a  shallow 
stream  in  which  he  was  wading  in  returning  from  the  pasture  field. 
He  suddenly  plunged  into  a  deep  hole  which  had  been  washed  out  by 
previous  floods ;  and  being  unable  to  swim,  and  no  adequate  help 
being  at  hand,  the  boy  perished. 

The  closing  years  of  his  life  and  ministry  were  spent  in  efforts  to 
secure  the  endowment  of  Lincoln  University,  in  which  he  was  unu- 
sually successful.  The  Winter  before  his  death  he  was  in  feeble 
health,  but  as  Spring  approached  he  seemed  to  recuperate,  and  at  a 
meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  April,  was  appointed,  according  to  his 
own  desire  to  represent  the  Presbytery  in  the  General  Assembly 
which  met  in  Chicago,  May,  1871.  He  was  able,  to  reach  the  Assem- 
bly, and  was  punctual  in  his  attendance  every  day  till  the  one  before 
its  final  adjournment.  On  that  day  he  said  to  the  writer — "  I  will 
leave  for  home  to-morrow  morning,  lest  I  shall  not  be  able  to  reach 
home  at  all."  Contrary  to  his  exjjectations,  traveling  and  change 
of    scene   had    not   availed   to   benefit    his  health,    but  probably  his 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  325 

close  attendance  on  the  sessions  of  the  General  Assembly  hastened 
the  end.  By  a  kind  providence  he  was  permitted  to  reach  his 
family  in  Carlisle,  but  a  few  days  afterwards  was  stricken  with 
{paralysis,  and  died  on  the  21st  of  June,  1871,  in  the  71st  year  of 
his  age. 

His  death  bed  was  marked  by  calmness  and  hope,  and  trust, 
explicitly  and  firmly  declared  in  the  righteousness  of  Christ.  His 
disease  prevented  him  from  communicating  with  his  family  and 
friends  except  by  writing.  Though  the  organs  of  speech  were 
entirely  paralized,  his  mind  was  in  an  unusual  degree  unim- 
paired. To  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  friends,  and  the  ministerial 
brethren  who  were  permitted  to  visit  him  in  his  last  sickness,  he 
expressed  in  the  way  indicated,  his  entire  resignation  to  the  will  of 
God  in  the  event,  and  his  unhesitating  reliance  on  the  merits  of 
Christ  for  salvation.  But  to  those  who  had  a  personal  acquaintance 
with  Mr.  Sterrett,  no  death-bed  declarations  were  needed  to  assure 
them  of  his  peaceful,  trustful,  and  triumphant  death.  "  Mark  the 
perfect  man,  behold  the  upright;  for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace." 
Ps.  37:37. 

Mr.  Sterrett:s  christian  character  from  the  time  that  he  made 
a  profession  of  religion,  was  not  only  unexceptionable,  but  eminent ; 
no  one  was  ever  known  to  question  his  personal  piety.  Out  of  the 
pulpit,  as  well  as  in  the  pulpit,  he  was  a  reprover  of  evil  doers. 
No  man  could  give  more  expressive  indications  of  disapprobation 
of  unbecoming  words  or  actions,  without  uttering  a  word  of  reproof; 
the  expression  of  his  countenance  being  the  certain  index  of  his 
thoughts.  As  a  christian  he  lived  near  to  God,  and  was  zealous  for 
his  honor  and  glory.  He  would  allow  of  no  trifling  with  sacred 
things  on  any  occasion  in  his  presence. 

As  a  christian  minister  he  was  able  and  faithful.  His  one  aim 
was  the  salvation  of  souls  ;  and  he  was  favored  by  God  to  be  the 
instrument  of  the  salvation  of  many.  As  a  preacher  he  was  highly 
esteemed  among  pious  people,  and  those  who  loved  the  pure  Gospel. 
He  was  not  a  Boanerges,  but  he  was  eminently  a  Barnabas.  His 
services  were  sought  for  at  protracted  meetings  and  in  times  of  revi- 
val, and  were  then  eminently  efficient.  He  was  a  wise  counsellor 
on  such  occasions  to  pastors  and  people,  and  to  inquirers. 

He  was  no  extempore  preacher,  but  required  time  for  preparation ; 
he  never  read  his  sermons  but  delivered  them  memoriter.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  humility,  far  more  ready  to  underrate  his  own  perfor- 


32fi  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

mances  than  to  take  satisfaction  in  them.  In  services  which  might 
be  common,  he  was  always  disposed  to  shove  his  brethren  forward 
and  stand  aside  himself.  Yet  he  never  declined  a  service  when  duty 
required  it,  or  when  properly  called  to  it.  As  a  presbyter  he  was 
wise  and  judicious,  considered  a  safe  counsellor  and  confided  in  by 
his  brethren.  He  never  occupied  much  time  by  set  speeches,  but 
always  spoke  directly  to  the  point  without  circumlocution.  Though 
of  a  very  mild  and  conciliatory  disposition,  he  was  always  firm  and 
fearless  in  what  he  believed  to  be  the  right.  Hardly  any  one  ever 
exhibited  more  of  the  suaviter  in  modo,fortiter  in  re. 

His  manner  in  the  pulpit  ordinarily  was  calm,  yet  at  most  times 
eloquent  with  heart-felt  earnestness.  His  voice  was  not  strong,  but 
pleasant  and  engaging.  His  delivery  was  not  boisterous,  but  more 
resembled  the  smoothly  flowing  stream.  In  all  his  pulpit  perform- 
ances there  was  a  gi  eater  equality  than  is  exhibited  or  maintained  by 
most  preachers.  He  never  rose  much  above  or  fell  much  below  his 
common  pulpit  exhibitions.  Of  course,  the  state  of  his  health  would 
affect  the  manner  of  his  delivery  :  but  not  much  the  material  or  sub 
stance  of  his  sermons. 


REV.  JAMES  LINN,   D.   D. 


REV.  JAMES  LINN,  D.  D.,  was  born  in  Sherman's  Valley,  now 
Perry  county,  Pa.,  September  4,  1783.  He  was  graduated  at 
Dickinson  College  in  1805,  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle  in 
1808,  and  ordained  in  Bellefonte,  Pa.,  April,  1810,  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Huntingdon.  His  pastoral  charge  embraced  the  churches  of 
Bellefonte  and  Lick  Run.  In  1839  he  was  released  from  Lick  Run 
and  retained  Bellefonte,  where  he  sustained  the  relation  of  pastor 
until  his  decease,  February  23,  1868. 

In  1811  Dr.  Linn  was  married  to  Miss  Jane  Harris,  daughter  of 
James  Harris,  Esq.,  one  of  the  earliest  and  most  eminent  citizens  of 
Centre  county.  By  this  marriage  he  had  four  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters,— four  of  whom,  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  still  live.  He  was 
again  married  on  the  15th  of  April,  1829,  to  Miss  Isabella  Henderson, 
a  daughter  of  another  of  the  early  and  reputable  citizens  of  Centre. 
This  union  gave  him  another  daughter,  the  present  Mrs.  Williaji 
Wilson,  of  Bellefonte.  The  second  Mrs.  Linn  survived  her  husband 
three  years.  Our  brother  was  eminently  happy  in  both  his  marriages; 
happy  also  in  his  children,  all  of  whom  have  ever  been  exemplary. 
His  family  was  an  illustration  of  the  blissful  influence  of  a  well 
ordered  home  and  of  the  power  of  that  truth  which  the  father  pro- 
claimed from  the  pulpit.  He  and  his  house  were  truly  a  pattern  to 
the  people  of  his  charge. 

In  social  life  Dr.  Linn  was  rather  more  retiring  and  silent  than 
became  one  in  his  position,  possessed  of  talents  and  learning,  and 
gifted  with  fair  conversational  powers.  He  needed  to  be  drawn  out. 
He  waited  for  others  to  lead,  and  when  they  did  so  they  found  him 
both  vivacious  and  instructive. 

As  a  Presbyter,  Dr.  Linn  was  one  of  the  most  faithful.  The  Pres- 
bytery  of    Huntingdon   is    large   in   regard    to   both   ministers   and 


328  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

churches.  Its  boundaries  are  extensive.  Ranges  of  precipitous 
mountains  traverse  it,  which  made  bad  roads  a  necessity.  Travelling 
was  hence  laborious.  The  fifty  miles  of  a  journey  often  needful  to 
attend  presbyterial  meetings,  and  to  supply  vacant  churches,  had  to 
be  accomplished  by  the  minister's  own  means  of  conveyance,  which^ 
ordinarily,  was  a  horse  and  saddle ;  and  yet  appointments  were  filled 
without  failure,  up  to  almost  the  extreme  of  old  age.  Among  his 
brethren  he  was,  in  Presbytery  as  elsewhere,  the  wise  and  reliable 
counsellor.  The  aged  and  the  young  found  in  him  the  ever  trust- 
worthy friend. 

As  a  pastor  Dr.  Linn  was  neither  a  flatterer,  nor  fussy,  but  atten- 
tive, kind,  and  sympathising.  None  were  too  rich  and  powerful  to  be 
admonished  ;  and  none  were  so  obscure  and  feeble  but  that  they  were 
waited  upon  with  assiduity.  As  a  preacher,  our  brother  was  earnest, 
plain  and  instructive,  inclining  more  to  the  doctrinal  and  practical 
than  to  the  experimental  and  hortatory.  In  the  early  part  of  his 
ministry  he  spoke,  as  was  the  custom  of  the  times,  mostly  from 
memory.  Later  in  life  he  sometimes  used  a  manuscript.  Always  was 
he  a  student. 

That  Dr.  Linn  possessed  a  combination  of  excellencies,  and  was 
capable  of  transferring  them,  is  evident  in  the  intelligence,  taste, 
refinement,  moi-al  excellence,  and  elevated  christian  character  and 
liberal  spirit  of  the  people  of  Bellefonte — evident  also  in  his  con- 
tinuing the  pastor  of  such  a  people  for  nearly  sixty  years — evident 
also  from  the  strong  attachment  of  three  generations,  the  parents, 
the  children,  and  the  grandchildren.  The  third  generation,  in  all 
the  vivacity  of  youth  and  early  manhood  regarded  the  aged  pastor 
with  love,  as  well  as  with  veneration. 

Dr.  Linn  is  a  most  instructive  example  to  the  younger  class  of 
our  ministers.  He  cast  in  his  lot  with  a  people  poor,  few  in  num- 
bers, with  lands  yet  to  clear  and  houses  yet  to  build.  His  promised 
salary  was  hence  small,  and  he  had  not  much  extra  means.  No  Mis- 
sion Board  behind.  No  Church  Erection  Fund  whence  to  draw. 
The  court-room  was  his  church  in  one  congregation,  and  a  log 
cabin  in  the  other.  But  bis  was  in  purpose,  a  life  contract.  He 
was  the  people's  and  the  people  were  his.  That  was  to  be  his  home, 
and  he  would  make  it  what  a  minister's  home  should  be — a  home 
in  the  happy  hearts  of  a  well  nurtured  flock.  He  would  have  an 
attached  family — a  people  who  would  love  him  in  response  to  his 
love  for  them.     He   knew  that   if  he  would  train  them  a   truly   and 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  329 

deeply  religious  people  they  would  be  also  a  people  industrious, 
thrifty,  liberal,  and  faithful  to  their  pastor.  If  he  would  enrich 
them  with  spiritual  treasures,  they  would  never  allow  him  to  be 
destitute  of  the  needed  good  things  which  should  be  the  fruits  of 
their  toil.  Such  were  his  faith  and  purpose.  The  purpose  he  exe- 
cuted, and  his  faith  proved  to  be  well  founded.  He  never  needed 
to  stimulate  his  people  by  complainings  or  threatening.  They  felt 
that  he  performed  his  duty,  and  a  performance  of  theirs  was  but  a 
natural  and  christian  response.  And  when  the  infirmities  of  age 
disqualified  him  for  ministerial  labor,  the  tendered  resignation  was 
refused.  An  assistant  was  provided  and  the  aged  pastor's  salary 
would  have  been  continued  as  before  had  he  not  absolutely  declined, 
under  the  altered  circumstances,  to  receive  more  than  $200  per  an- 
num, which  was  forced  upon  his  acceptance.  Happy  pastor,  happy 
people.     Blessed  of  the  Lord.  Rev.  D.  McKinney,  D.  D. 


Dr.  Lixx's  portrait  as  a  clergyman  has  been  drawn  by  an  able  hand, 
but  there  were  features  of  his  character  as  a  man  and  citizen, 
unnoted  in  this  memorial,  which  those  who  knew  and  loved  him 
best  desire  to  have  perpetuated  ;  more  especially  those  tender  and 
lovable  qualities  which  united  with  the  stronger  and  sturdier  ones, 
to  make  him  what  he  was. 

The  estimation  in  which  he  was  held  by  his  own  people  was  largely 
shared  by  the  whole  community  in  which  he  lived.  Among  the 
immediate  neighbors,  with  whom  his  friendly  relations  were  unbro- 
ken, were  those  of  various  religious  opinions ;  Episcopalians,  Qua- 
kers and  .lews  as  well  as  Presbyterians;  and  nearest  of  all,  within 
sight  and  hearing  of  much  that  was  done  and  said  in  the  household, 
Lived  for  twenty-five  years,  a  Roman  Catholic  family,  and  the  affec- 
tionate veneration  of  their  feelings  was  strongly  expressed  by  one 
of  them  when  he  died,  in  the  exclamation  that  "Mr.  Linn  would 
certainly  go  straight  to  heaven."  Among  his  Jewish  friends,  was  one 
in  particular,  who  evinced  his  regard  by  kind  personal  attentions, 
redoubling  them  in  his  last  illness  by  taking  to  the  dying  clergy- 
man grapes  and  other  delicacies.  And  to  these  tokens  of  a  wide 
spread  reverential  feeling  in  the  community,  may  be  added  the 
general  respect  shown  at  his  funeral,  in  the  closing  of  stores  and 
dismissal  of  schools;  the  large  concourse  of  people  attending  the 
services   in    the    church    being   composed    not    only    of    parishioners 


330  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES   OF    DECEASED    .MEMBERS. 

mourning  for  their  pastor,  but  also  of  fellow  citizens  paying  their 
last  tribute  of  respect  to  an  earnest  and  patriotic  man,  a  faithful  and 
generous  friend,  a  patriarch,  whose  useful  and  blameless  life  merited 
all  the  honor  that  could  thus  be  paid  to  his  memory. 

The  tablet  which  fitly  commemorates  his  long  connection  with  the 
Bellefonte  church,  on  the  wall  of  the  new  edifice,  bears  this 
inscription  : 

"Faithful,  wise;  meek,  patient;  pure,  devout." 

Of  the  faithfulness  in  his  ministry  much  can  be  said.  His  field  of 
labor  for  twenty-nine  years,  embraced  the  two  parishes  extending 
from  Tyrone  to  Lock  Haven,  and  from  Karthaus,  on  the  West  Branch 
of  the  Susquehanna,  to  the  Seven  Mountains,  fifty  miles  each  way ; 
and  it  was  his  invariable  custom  to  pay  pastoral  visits  to  each  family 
of  his  charge,  twice  a  year  in  the  earlier  part  of  his  ministry,  and  later, 
once  a  year  at  least.  In  the  more  primitive  days  these  ministrations 
to  a  flock  so  scattered  involved  toilsome  service  ;  all  sorts  of  weather 
braved,  and  much  time  spent  on  the  road.  I  can  remember  seeing 
Dr.  Linn  when  advanced  in  life,  saddle  his  horse  or  else  gear  him 
for  driving,  and  start  out  after  sunset  to  preach  at  some  distant 
point ;  for  his  congregation,  even  at  that  time,  had  numerous  mem- 
bers living  five,  six,  and  seven  miles  in  the  country.  I  have  the 
authority  of  Judge  Linn,  for  recording  that  in  one  of  the  rare 
instances  when  he  induced  his  father  to  speak  of  himself,  at  a  time 
when  he  had  been  about  thirty-six  years  in  the  ministry,  he  men- 
tioned that  he  had  only  once  missed  keeping  an  appointment  of  any 
sort,  and  this  on  account  of  the  serious  illness  of  his  wife ;  punc- 
tuality being  one  of  the  marked  virtues  of  his  character.  He  was 
faithful  also  in  another  respect,  being  ready  at  all  times  to  rebuke 
bad  conduct,  not  "beating  about  the  bush,"  but  speaking  outright 
whatever  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  say  ;  and  this  must  have  had  the 
more  weight  because  of  his  natural  reticence  and  unwillingness  to 
give  offence.  A  lady  expressed  her  sense  of  the  force  of  his  disap- 
probation to  Judge  Linn,  in  these  words — "  Your  father's  smile  is 
like  sunshine,  but  his  frown  is  terrible." 

Dr.  Linn  was  eminently  a  modest  man,  disliking  to  put  himself  for- 
ward in  any  way,  "seeking  not  his  own,"  hiding  self  in  the  Saviour 
for  whom  he  lived  and  labored.  When  he  was  made  a  Doctor  of 
Divinity,  though  realizing  the  honor,  he  was  exceedingly  annoyed 
and  distressed.     In  response  to  the  first  salutations  connecting  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS.  331 

title  with  his  name,  he  would  say,  "there  is  no  doctor  here."  He 
said  that  when  strangei's  came  to  the  place  and  asked  on  the  Sabbath 

who  preached  there,  on  being  told  "  Mr. preaches  there  and  Mr. 

there,  but  Dr.  Linn  preaches  in  the  church  with  a  tall  steeple," 

they  would  go  to  the  latter  place  with  great  expectations,  and  he 
should  feel  mortified  to  disappoint  them.  In  his  address  at  the  semi- 
centenary  of  his  pastorate  he  remarked :  "  Some  one  thought  it 
would  be  a  proper  token  of  respect  for  me  to  have  a  theological  title 
attached  to  my  name.  I  cannot  doubt  the  goodness  of  the  motive 
which  prompted  the  mover  in  this  case,  but  he  has  overestimated  my 
qualifications  for  that  degree.  I  have  no  scruples  of  conscience 
respecting  the  wearing  of  titles ;  but  I  never  thought  myself  posessed 
of  the  mental  power  and  theological  attainments  that  would  qualify 
me  for  having  such  distinction." 

It  was  his  aim  to  make  his  sermons  plain,  and  if  in  writing  a  flower 
of  rhetoric  sprang  up  beneath  his  pen,  it  was  ruthlessly  plucked  up 
and  cast  away ;  and%  yet  with  their  unadorned  simplicity,  he  was  fre- 
quently asked  for  these  sermons  for  publication.  And  in  this  connec- 
tion it  may  be  stated,  as  illustrating  his  modesty  as  well  as  his  indus- 
try, that  no  sermon  was  ever  repeated  in  the  same  pulpit. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  he  was  so  unwilling  to  speak  of 
himself.  At  the  time  of  the  semi-centenary  there  were  but  three  or 
four  persons  in  the  entire  range  of  his  pastorate  who  were  of  mature 
years  when  he  first  went  to  Bellefonte.  There  are  none,  therefore, 
now  who  can  give  the  information  that  would  be  so  valuable  as  to  his 
early  life,  the  influences  that  moulded  his  character  and  his  expe- 
riences as  a  young  clergyman  in  so  interesting  a  locality. 

II<-  lived  during  his  first  married  life  and  for  some  years  afterwards 
on  a  farm  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  Bellefonte,  and  was 
noted  in  those  days  for  his  great  strength,  being  the  best  reaper  in  all 
the  country.  He  was  always  present  at  the  "frolics,"  as  they  were 
called,  i.  e.  gatherings  of  the  farmers  for  the  purpose  of  helping  each 
other  at  harvestings,  and  other  such  occasions ;  and  always  continued 
to  have  an  interest  in  everything  connected  with  agriculture.  He  was 
a  good  horseman  and  very  fond  of  horses,  preferring  for  his  own  use 
even  in  advanced  years,  those  that  were  spirited. 

He  had  a  thorough  acquaintance  with  music  as  a  science,  and  a  fine 
voice,  which  he  used  with  admirable  effect;  being  able  to  lead  the 
singing  at  any  service. 


332  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    MEMBERS. 

He  was,  for  many  years,  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the 
Academy,  and  taught  a  class  of  young  ladies  in  that  institution,  in  the 
early  years  of  his  pastorate.  Beside  his  strong  interest  in  educational 
matters  he  also  felt  an  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  country.  During 
the  war  especially  his  sympathies  were  warmly  called  forth. 

A  public  meeting  on  the  Sabbath  would  never,  on  ordinary  occa- 
sions, have  had  his  countenance,  but  he  promptly  responded  to  a 
summons  for  such  a  meeting,  when  the  object  was  to  minister  to  the 
relief  of  soldiers  suffering  in  defence  of  the  country. 

In  a  region  noted  for  its  hospitality,  Dr.  Linn  was  eminently  hospi- 
table, and  his  generosity  was  spontaneous  and  unpretending.  The 
late  H.  N.  McAllister  never  wearied  of  referring  in  the  congrega- 
tional meetings  to  Dr.  Linn's  generous  dealings  with  the  church.  It 
was  at  one  time  greatly  in  debt,  $900  for  a  country  church  being  a 
heavy  weight  of  indebtedness  when  the  people  had  not  been  educated 
up  to  the  present  state  of  enlightenment  as  to  church  obligations,  nor 
attained  the  present  measure  of  prosperity.  Until  this  pecuniary 
cloud  was  dispelled  Dr.  Linn  voluntarily  remitted  every  year 
from  his  salary  as  his  contribution  towards  the  payment  of  the  debt. 

S.  L.  B. 


PART  III. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 

OF  SOME  OF  THE  MOKE  PKOMINENT 

DECEASED  ELDERS  OE  THE  PRESBYTERY. 


DECEASED  RULING  ELDERS. 


THE  writer  anticipated  difficulties  in  the  way  of  obtaining  reliable 
sketches  of  the  lives  of  the  original  elders  of  the  Presbytery,  but 
has  experienced  more  than  he  expected.  Of  the  ruling  elders  who 
served  the  respective  congregations  at  the  time  of  the  organization 
of  the  Presbytery,  and  for  some  years  afterwards,  but  few  fragments 
of  their  history  remain  to  be  gathered  up.  Their  cotemporaries 
are  all  dead*  the  second  generation  have  also  passed  away;  and  the 
third  know  but  little  about  them  but  their  names  and  the  places  of 
their  residence.  Indeed,  as  the  time  of  the  organization  of  most 
of  the  original  churches  is  buried  in  obscurity,  so  the  elders  offici- 
ating in  these  times,  even  their  names,  in  many  instances,  are  un- 
known. Take  for  example  the  church  of  Huntingdon,  one  of  the 
most  prominent  in  the  Presbytery,  has  no  record  of  the  original 
elders,  and  can  only  be  guessed  at  by  the  names  of  those  who  acted 
in  the  capacity  of  trustees  to  whom  the  original  deed  of  church 
property  was  made.  Records  never  were  made,  or  have  been  lost,  or 
as  in  the  ca^se  of  Huntingdon  church,  destroyed  in  the  conflagration 
of  the  buildings  in  which  they  were  kept.  For  these  reasons  we 
have  been  unable  to  obtain  but  little  information  concerning  the  first 
class  of  elders,  who  lived  and  served  the  congregations  in  conjunc- 
tion with  the  original  pastors ;  and  are  therefore  under  the  neces- 
sity of  contenting  ourselves  with  the  names  and  memorials  of  those 
of  later  date,  mostly  of  the  second  generation.  The  elders  present 
at  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery,  were  John  Watson,  Walter 
Clark,  Robert  Smith,  and  William  Hammond,  but  the  congregations 
they  represented  are  not  upon  record.  The  second  day  of  the  ses- 
sion Mr.  Robert  Riddle  was  enrolled  as  an  elder  from  Shavers 
Creek  congregation.  He  afterward  removed  to  Scotch  Valley, 
within  the  bounds  of  the  Frankstown  (Hollidaysburg)  congregation  ; 
and   many  descendents  are  yet  living  within  the  same  bounds.     A 


336       BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  DECEASED  RULING  ELDERS. 

son  was  an  elder  in  the  same  congregation  for  many  years,  and  a 
grandson  is  now  an  acting  elder  of  the  same  church. 

At  the  second  meeting  of  the  Preshytery  after  the  organization, 
there  was  but  one  elder  present  on  the  first  day,  Mr.  John  Cooper. 
He  was  from  East  Kishacoquillas.  Two  of  his  sons  afterwards  filled 
the  office  of  elder  in  different  congregations ;  Mr.  Robert  Cooper  in 
East  Kishacoquillas,  the  father  of  the  late  Eev.  Samuel  M.  Cooper  ; 
and  Mr.  Samuel  Cooper,  an  elder  in  the  congregation  of  Spruce 
Creek.  Of  the  family  of  Mr.  John  Cooper,  there  are  descendants 
with  us  to  this  day.  On  the  second  day  of  the  meeting,  other  elders 
made  their  appearance,  among  which  were  Messrs.  Alexander  Mc- 
Cormick  of  Shavers  Creek,  William  King  of  Penns  Valley,  and 
William  Shaw  of  Warriors  Run.  There  were  two  brothers,  both 
elders  in  the  congregation  of  Shavers  Creek,  Alexander  and  George 
McCormick.  Alexander,  the  eldest,  was  a  boy  fourteen  years  old 
at  the  time  of  Braddock's  defeat,  and  was  with  the  army,  but  in  what 
capacity  is  not  known.  But  it  is  quite  probable  that  it  was  as  a 
volunteer  soldier,  as  in  those  times  all  the  region  in  which  he  was 
born  was  infested  with  Indians,  and  even  boys  were  experienced 
Indian  hunters.  McAUavy's  Fort  was  in  the  vicinity  of  his  father's 
residence,  into  which  the  family,  with  other  families,  were  often 
compelled  to  take  refuge.  It  was  in  Alexander  McCormick's  house 
the  congregation  of  Shavers  Creek  was  organized ;  and  in  whose 
family  the  Rev.  John  Johnston  boarded  while  he  was  stated  supply  of 
the  congregation.  The  above  named  elders  are  mentioned  with  the 
main  design  of  perpetuating  their  names,  because  they  were  honored 
and  active  officers  of  the  church  in  their  day,  though  very  little  is 
known  of  their  private  character  and  history.  But  we  come  now 
to  a  name  of  more  modern  date,  and  concerning  whom  there  are 
those  living  who  are  able  to  give  the  important  facts  of  his  life. 


JOHN  G.  LOWREY,  ESQ. 


MR.  LOWREY,  at  the  time  tlie  writer  became  a  member  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  had  either  retired  from  the  active 
duties  of  the  eldership,  or  had  removed  to  St.  Louis,  so  that  we 
never  met  him  in  Presbytery,  of  which  he  had  been  frequently  a 
member.  Xo  member  of  the  session  of  Bellefonte  church  so  fre- 
quently represented  it  in  Presbytery,  and  no  elder  was  so  frequently 
chosen  by  the  Presbytery  to  represent  it  in  the  General  Assembly 
along  with  others.  To  the  Hon.  Ex-Judge  Samuel  Linn,  son  of  Rev. 
James  Linn,  D.  D.,  application  was  made  in  the  first  instance  for  facts 
concerning  the  life  of  Mr.  Lowret,  when  the  following  reply  was  re- 
ceived : 

"  Lewisburg,  February  20,  1872. 
Rev.  and  Dear  Sir: — 1  knew  John  G.  Lowrey  very  well  from 
my  earliest  childhood — knew  Mm  as  a  valuable  member  of  society — 
as  a  faithful  public  officer,  and  as  a  prominent  and  useful  member 
of  the  session  of  the  church.  He  was  one  of  my  father's  warmest 
friends  and  wisest  counsellors,  and  I  know  of  no  one  connected  with 
the  ruling  eldership  who  was  more  worthy  of  notice  amongst  the 
memorials  of  church  history.  But  as  he  was  a  man  in  middle  life  when 
1  was  but  a  child,  and  left  Bellefonte  for  the  West  just  about  the  time 
I  began  to  cuter  upon  the  active  practice  of  my  profession,  there  are 
many  important  parts  of  the  history  of  his  life  that  I  would  be  unable 
to  relate.  I  would  refer  you  for  more  accurate  information  than  I  can 
give,  to  Edwakd  C.  Humes,  Esq.,, whose  family  relationship  with  Mr. 
L'iwkky,  will  enable  him  to  give  you  many  interesting  historical  facts. 
I  have,  however,  such  admiration  of  the  character  of  that  most  excel- 
lent old  man,  that  I  would  be  willing,  after  he  has  given  such  statis- 
tical and  general  information  as  he  can  give,  to  add  my  knowledge  of 
him  as  far  as  it  goes,  and  my  impressions  of  his  character,  public  and 
private." 


338  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    RULING    ELDERS. 

Upon  application  to  Mr.  Humes,  the  following  letter  was  received : 

"  Bellefonte,  May  2,  1872. 

Rev.  W.  J.  Gibson,  D.  D. — Dear  Sir: — It  would  afford  me  great 
pleasure  to  aid  you  in  the  work  you  have  in  hand,  in  the  way  you 
suggest,  had  I  the  information  you  desire  to  procure,  or  had  I  the  means 
of  obtaining  it.  It  is  true,  that  in  my  younger  days,  I  was  well 
acquainted  with  John  G.  Lowrey,  the  person  you  refer  to,  who  resided 
in  this  town,  almost  from  its  organization,  to  the  time  he  left  for  a  resi- 
dence in  St.  Louis.  Yet  I  fear  I  could  not  give  you  such  particulars 
of  his  private  history,  in  detail,  as  would  he  of  much  service  to  you  in 
preparing  a  sketch  of  his  life.  Yet  there  are  some  things  I  do  know 
and  remember,    which  I  may  refer  to  as  they  occur  to  me. 

The  name  of  John  G.  Lowrey  is  familiar  to  some  of  the  older  citizens 
of  Bellefonte,  as  prominent  among  those  earlier  settlers  of  the  town,  who 
were  influential  in  the  formation  of  the  society  and  church  organization 
then  existing. 

He  was  born  ot  Presbyterian  stock,  in  Donegal,  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
about  the  year  1780 — from  whence  he  came  to  this  town,  probably  not 
later  than  1793  or  1794;  where  he  resided  more  than  half  a  century,  in 
the  prime  of  his  life.  A  young  man  of  some  culture  and  education  for 
the  day,  although  without  advantages  other  than  such  as  were  afforded 
by  a  country  school,  and  that  for  a  brief  period,  he  at  once  took  and  ever 
after  maintained  a  high  social  position  among  the  people.  He  was  a  good 
accountant — hence  his  principal  occupation  consisted  in  the  settling  up 
of  estates,  and  agencies  for  owners  of  unseated  lands;  vast  bodies  of  which 
were  held  by  non-residents,  in  this,  the  central  portion  of  the  State. 

He  had  his  peculiarities ;  and  in  some  respects  was  a  man  of  mark.  He 
was  notoriously  self-willed,  and  those  who  knew  him  best  and  most  inti- 
mately in  his  social  and  political  relations,  always  gave  him  credit  for  a 
firmness  and  pertinacity  in  his  opinions,  which  amounted  almost  to  obsti- 
uacy ;  and  such  as  rarely  yielded  to  persuasion  or  argument.  Indeed,  it 
was  well  known  and  generally  admitted  by  his  friends,  that  if  Mr.  Lowrey 
had  formed  an  opinion  on  any  subject,  it  was  a  waste  of  time  to  attempt 
to  change  it.  As  an  instance  of  this  trait  in  his  character,  it  was  his  firm 
and  decided  opinion  that  Napoleon  Bonaparte  was  alive,  long  after 
all  the  civilized  world  beside  believed  the  fact  as  reported,  that  he  died  in 
exile  on  the  Island  of  St.  Helena. 

He  was  an  ardent  admirer  of  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson,  and  it  is  well 
remembered  by  his  acquaintances  of  that  day,  that  next  to  his  Bible,  the 
State  paper  of  the  hero  of  New  Orleans,  was  more  highly  estimated  by 
him  than  any  other  production  of  the  times. 

As  a  member  of  the  community  in  which  he  resided,  he  was  greatly 
influential  in  giving  tone  to  public  sentiment;  and  repeatedly  held  many, 
if  not  all  the  offices  of  honor  and  trust  in  the  town   and  county  of  his 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES   OF   DECEASED    RULING    ELDERS.  339 

adoption  ;  but  being  naturally  a  modest  and  unassuming  man  withal,  never 
aspired  to  higher  positions.  The  records  of  the  Bellefonte  Presbyterian 
congregation,  with  which  he  connected  himself  early  in  its  organization, 
under  the  pastorship  of  the  Kev.  Henry  It.  Wilson,  D.  D.,  Si*.,  show 
him  to  have  been  one  of  its  first  ruling  elders.  He  continued  to  act  in 
this  capacity,  under  the  pastorate  df  the  late  Rev.  James  Linn,  D.  D.;  and 
likewise  performed  for  many  years,  the  duties  of  collector,  treasurer, 
and  secretary  of  the  church  ;  as  well  as  Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath 
school  from  its  organization  until  his  removal  to  the  West.  Without 
disparaging  the  services  of  others,  to  whom  this  church  is  much  indebted 
for  its  past  and  present  prosperity,  it  is  but  just  to  the  memory  of  Mr. 
Lowrey  to  say,  that  he  was  equalled  by  few  and  excelled  by  none  of  his 
cotemporaries,  in  an  earnest  faithful  devotion  of  his  time  and  means  to  the 
welfare  of  the  church. 

For  many  years  he  was  prominent  in  conducting  the  services  of  the 
social  prayer  meeting,  in  which  exercise  he  was  highly  gifted ;  and  by 
his  regular  and  uniform  attendance,  impressed  upon  others  his  attachment 
for  this  duty.  He  was  a  conscientious  and  liberal  contributor  to  the  sup- 
port and  spread  of  the  gospel  in  his  day.  He  was  frequently  in  attendance 
on  the  courts  of  the  church  as  a  member,  and  was  universally  regarded 
as  well  qualified  for  the  performance  of  his  official  duties.  As  before 
stated,  he  more  frequently  represented  the  Presbytery  in  the  General 
Assembly,  than  perhaps  any  other  layman. 

He  died  some  years  ago  in  St.  Louis,  having  survived  his  third  wife." 


HON.  GEORGE   BOAL. 


MR.  BOAL  was  born  in  the  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  July  16,  1796. 
He  was  but  two  years  old  when  his  father  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  and  settled  in  Penns  Valley.  His  father,  David  Boal, 
came  to  this  country  in  1798  in  the  same  vessel  with  the  late  Rev. 
Dr.  Samuel  B.  Wilie,  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  Rev.  John  Black, 
D.  D.,  of  Pittsburg,  they  being  then  only  students  of  theology : 
and  the  father  of  the  writer,  the  only  minister  on  board  the  vessel. 
They  landed  at  Philadelphia  in  the  year  above  named,  from  whence 
they  separated,  Mr.  Boal  making  his  way  to  the  centre  of  the  State. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Ireland,  and  on 
coming  to  Penns  Valley  connected  himself  with  the  church  then 
known  as  Slab  Cabin,  now  called  Spring  Creek.  Of  this  church  he 
was  afterwards  made  an  elder,  in  which  office  he  served  the  congrega- 
tion with  great  acceptance  till  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  March,  1837.  He  gave  name  to  the  town  of  Boalsburg  in  Centre 
county,  as  his  farm  lay  just  upon  the  outskirts  of  the  town ;  and  it 
is  probable  that  the  land  on  which  the  town  was  built  originally 
belonged  to  him.  Such  was  the  favorable  and  honorable  parentage 
of  the  subject  of  our  notice.  It  implied  the  strictest  and  most  intel- 
ligent education  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  to  which 
George  Boal  adhered  in  all  his  after  life.  When  times  of  distrac- 
tion and  division  afterwards  came  upon  the  church,  Mr.  Boal  was 
found  among  the  foremost,  most  trusted,  and  most  intelligent  of  the 
lay  leaders  in  behalf  of  the  doctrines  and  discipline  of  the  church. 
Mr.  Boal's  education  was  only  such  as  could  be  obtained  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  the  county,  of  which,  however,  he  made  the  best 
possible  improvement,  and  was  therefore  well  qualified  for  all  the 
ordinary  business  of  a  citizen,  and  for  the  offices  of  honor  and  trust 
to  which  he  was  afterwards  appointed  or   chosen.     He  was  a  farmer 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    RULING    ELDERS.  34] 

all  his  life.  He  was  brought  up  on  the  farm  with  his  father,  and  after- 
wards farmed  for  himself,  having  inherited  the  family  homestead.  At 
what  time  of  life  he  connected  himself  with  the  church  by  a  personal 
profession,  is  not  known,  but  it  was  early,  while  he  was  yet  a  young 
man.  Such  was  the  estimate  of  the  church  of  his  intelligence  and 
piety,  that  he  was  elected,  ordained,  and  installed  an  elder  in  it  while 
his  father  was  yet  living.  This  event  took  place  in  May,  1835  ;  his 
father  died  two  years  afterwards.  For  a  man  to  be  elected  to  this 
responsible  office  while  yet  a  young  man,  and  in  the  congregation 
in  which  he  was  raised,  not  only  implied  his  special  qualifications 
for  the  office,  but  the  high  respect  in  which  his  character  was  held 
by  his  neighbors  and  friends,  and  brethren  from  his  youth  up.  If 
his  life  had  not  been  without  reproach,  he  could  never  have  been  so 
honored  and  trusted  by  those  with  whom  his  whole  life  had  been 
familiar.  And  he  continued  to  adorn  the  place  an  honored  and 
trusted  leader  in  the  session  and  the  church  till  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  was  equally  respected  and  trusted  in  civil  life.  He  was  elected 
an  associate  judge  of  Centre  county  ;  and  in  1840  a  member  of  the 
State  Legislature  for  one  term.  As  to  politics,  he  acted  with  the 
Democraric  party  till  1861-62,  at  which  time  he  became  an  active 
supporter  of  the  administration  then  in  power,  in  prosecuting  the 
war  for  the  Union.  And  few  men  in  Centre  county,  and  no  man  in 
his  own  immediate  neighborhood,  exerted  a  larger  influence  in  pro- 
curing volunteers  for  the  Union  army.  But  he  never  was  a  politi- 
cian in  the  modern  application  of  that  term.  The  civil  offices 
which  he  held  sought  him,  not  he  the  offices.  His  known  sound 
judgment,  integrity,  and  personal  popularity,  recommended  him  to 
nominating  conventions,  and  to  the  suffrages  k>f  the  people.  Judge 
Boal  was  often  called  upon  to  attend  Presbyteries,  Synods,  and  Gen- 
eral Assemblies,  in  all  of  which  he  was  recognized  as  a  judicious 
counsellor. 

Such  was  his  reputation  among  his  neighbors  for  sound  judgment 
and  integrity,  that  he  was  frequently  employed  as  executor  and 
administrator  of  the  estates  of  deceased  persons,  knowing  that  any 
amount  of  property,  or  of  funds,  would  be  safe  in  his  hands  and 
under  his  management. 

The  prominent  points  of  Judge  Boal' a  character  were,  soundness 
of  judgment  and  eminent  discretion ;  kindness  to  the  poor,  and 
liberality  in  giving  to  all  benevolent  objects;    a  true  and   practical 


342  BIOGRAPAICAL   SKETCHES   OF   DECEASED    RULING   ELDERS. 

love  of  his  country,  willing  to  make  sacrifices  for  the  public  good  ; 
social  in  his  habits  and  the  most  engaging  kindness  in  all  the  relations 
of  life,  he  was  universally  beloved  and  respected  in  his  immediate 
neighborhood.  Scarcely  any  citizen  could  have  died  whose  loss 
would  have  been  at  the  time  more  generally  felt  and  regretted. 

Mr.  Boal  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Nanct  Jack, 
who  died  in  1843.  His  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Johnston 
(formerly  Miss  E.  Williams,)  to  whom  he  was  married  December  31, 
1844.  She  still  survives.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  four  sons  and 
three  daughters;  by  his  second  wife  a  daughter  and  a  son.  One 
son  died  in  the  army ;  he  was  killed  in  battle  or  died  of  camp  fever 
during  the  progress  of  the  civil  war. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add,  that  Judge  Boal  was  a  man  of 
decided  piety.  For  wherein  is  true  piety  manifested  but  by  a  con- 
scientious and  exact  fulfilment  of  duty  in  all  the  relations  of  life. 
He  loved  the  church  and  was  foremost  in  all' things  that  pertained 
to  its  advancement.  He  was  a  man  of  prayer,  and  very  active  in 
times  when  there  was  any  special  interest  in  the  congregation  on  the 
subject  of  religion. 


HON.  JOHN  KERR. 


MR.  KERR  was  a  native  of  Huntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania, 
born  near  to  the  town  of  Huntingdon,  Ajn'il  1,  1796.  His 
father  was  William  Kerr;  he  came  from  Ireland,  and  married  a 
Miss  Woods,  who  was  probably  a  native  of  this  country.  John,  their 
son,  lived  and  died  upon  the  farm  on  which  he  was  born.  His  edu- 
cation was  such  as  farmer's  sons  usually  obtained  in  those  times,  only 
such  as  was  to  be  obtained  in  the  common  schools,  not  however 
schools  that  were  sustained  by  the  State,  but  by  the  families  in  each 
particular  district.  If  any  one  made  more  advancement  in  educa- 
tion than  another,  it  was  not  owing  to  superior  advantages  in  the 
way  of  a  common  education,  but  to  superior  diligence  and  aptitude, 
to  receive  instruction.  As  to  his  religious  instruction  it  must 
have  been  faithfully  imparted,  if  we  are  to  judge  from  the  man- 
hood of  the  subject.  The  time  when  he  made  a  personal  pro- 
fession of  religion  must  have  been  early  in  life,  for  he  was  yet 
a  young  man  when  he  was  elected  an  elder  of  the  church  of 
Huntingdon.  And  yet,  owing  to  the  loss  of  records,  the  precise 
year  in  which  he  was  chosen  to  that  resjwnsible  office  is  not 
certainly  known ;  but  his  name  appears  on  the  records  of  the 
Presbytery  as  the  elder  representing  the  congregation  of  Hunting- 
don, early  in  the  year  1823,  when  he  was  only  twenty-seven  years 
of  age;  and  almost  continuously  from  that  time  his  name  appears 
on  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery  as  the  elder  representing  the 
congregation.  The  congregation  must  have  been  scarce  of  elders, 
or  Judge  Kerr  must  have  been  the  leading  member  of  session, 
which  was  the  fact.  In  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  church,  whether 
its  religious  or  secular  interests,  Mr.  Kerr  always  took  a  leading 
part.     He  gave  his  time  and   his  money   without  stint  to  the  church. 


344  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    RULING    ELDERS. 

Such  men  are  always  honored  with  the  pre-eminence,  and  deservedly 
so  ;  and  without  envy  on  the  part  of  their  brethren.  It  was  so  with 
Mr.  Kerr,  he  was  accorded  a  voluntary  pre-eminence  in  the  church, 
because  he  was  so  devoted  to  it  in  all  its  interest,  sparing  neither 
time  nor  expense.  As  an  elder  he  was  an  example  to  all  the  mem- 
bers  of  the  church  in  his  punctual  and  unfailing  attendance  on  all 
the  means  of  grace,  public,  social,  and  private.  When  appointed 
to  attend  the  courts  of  the  church,  as  he  often  was,  Presbyteries, 
Synods,  and  Assemblies,  he  made  no  excuse  of  the  urgency  of  pri- 
vate business  to  excuse  him  from  attendance.  He  always  gave  the 
preference  to  the  business  of  the  church  over  his  own  private  con- 
cerns. 

As  a  counsellor  he  was  an  invaluable  aid  to  his  pastor.  The  Kev. 
John  Peebles,  during  whose  pastorate  Mr.  Kerr  served  in  the  elder- 
ship,  told  the  writer  that  he  was  in  the  habit  of  consulting  Judge 
Kerr  in  all  cases  great  and  small,  about  which  he  had  doubts, 
and  always  obtained  light  and  aid  from  his  counsels,  whether  the 
matters  pertained  to  his  own  private  business,  or  to  the  business  of 
the  church.  What  a  pleasant  consideration  it  is  that  God  always 
provides  one  John  Kerr  for  almost  every  congregation,  on  whom  the 
pastor  can  rely  on  all  occasions.  Mr.  Kerr  was  appointed  one  of 
the  Associate  Judges  of  the  county  of  Huntingdon,  as  is  believed, 
1  >v  a  Governor  who  was  not  of  the  same  party  in  politics  with 
himself,  but  who  knew  him  well,  having  resided  in  the  same 
vicinity  for  many  years.  If  so.  as  we  suppose,  it  was  a  deserved 
compliment  to  Mr.  Kerr's  integrity  and  intelligence. 

Judge  Kerr  was  married  twice.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Sarah 
Woods,  a  sister  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Jas.  S.  Woods  of  Lewistown.  She 
lived  but  a  short  time.  He  afterwards  married  Miss  Mary  C.  Wil- 
liams, a  daughter  of  Rev.  Dr.  Joshua  Williams  of  Cumberland 
county,  Pa.,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  now 
■lead  except  Cornelia  M.,  wife  of  the  Rev.  James  A.  Reed  of  Spring- 
field.  111. 

It  is  remarkable  that  within  the  space  of  three  years  after  the 
father's  death,  the  whole  family  of  children  were  removed  by  death, 
•except  the  one  above  mentioned.  Judge  Kerr  died  of  typhoid  fever, 
August  30,  1855;  and  Joshua,  his  second  son,  died  March  24,  1857 — 
Henry,  the  oldest.  June  26,  1857 — and  John  Peebles  Kerr,  died 
February    23.    1857.       And   in  1858    a    daughter,  named   Ella,   died. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES   OF   DECEASED    RULING-   ELDERS.  345 

Henry  and  Joshua    had  just  graduated  at   Lafayette  College,   and 
John  was  at  scliool  at  Mt.  Joy. 

Mrs.  Kerr  died  at  Wooster.  Ohio,  at  the  residence  of  her  son -in- 
law. Rev.  James  A.  Reed,  February  17,  1867.  The  family  are  all 
resting  in  the  old  grave  yard  at  Huntingdon.  The  name  of  Judge 
John  Kerr  is  still  savoury  in  all  this  region ;  and  together  with  the 
name  of  that  man  of  God,  the  Rev.  John  Peebles,  will  be  held  in 
lasting  remembrance  by  the  congregation  and  people  of  Huntingdon. 
They  lie  together  in  the  same  cemetery  and  will  rise  together  to  meet 
their  Lord  in  the  air  at  his  coming.  That  love  and  friendship  which 
was  unbroken  on  earth  is  renewed  and  perfected  in  heaven". 


HON.  JONATHAN   M' WILLIAMS. 


MR.  McWILLIAMS  was  born  in  Spruce  Creek  Valley,  Hunting- 
don county,  Pa.,  in  1797.  He  was  of  Scotch  descent.  His 
parents  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  spent  his 
youth  and  part  of  his  mature  years  in  working  at  a  mechanical  trade ; 
but  latterly  lived  on  a  farm  of  his  own,  on  which  he  principally  raised 
his  family.  Married  in  1819  Miss  Esther  Boreland,  who  was  a  native 
of  the  same  valley,  and  the  same  year  joined  the  Presbyterian 
church.  In  1827  he  was  elected  a  ruling  elder  of  the  church  of  his 
childhood ;  in  which  capacity  he  served  them  with  fidelity  till 
within  five  years  of  his  death,  at  which  time  he  removed  out  of 
the  bounds  of  the  congregation.  His  eldest  daughter  was  married 
to  the  late  Rev.  Thomas  Stevenson,  who  after  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band resided  in  McVeytown,  Mifflin  county,  and  this  was  the  chief 
inducement  to  Mr.  McWilliams  to  remove  there  to  spend  the  last 
years  of  his  life.  He  was,  twice  elected  to  the  State  Legislature 
from  Huntingdon  county,  and  served  during  the  years  1842  and 
1843.  He  was  also  elected  an  associate  judge  of  the  county.  He 
enjoyed  in  the  highest  degree  the  confidence  of  the  community 
among  whom  he  spent  almost  the  whole  of  his  life.  His  intelligence, 
piety,  and  public  spirit,  commanded  the  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him. 
He  was  a  great  reader ;  collected  a  large  library  of  standard  works, 
and  became  possessed  of  a  very  general  information.  His  face  was 
always  set  against  wrong;  and  he  employed  his  pen  frequently  in  the 
inculcation  of  virtue,  and  in  the  defence  of  Christianity.  He  early 
enlisted  in  the  cause  of  temperance,  and  spent  both  time  and  money 
in  urging  forward  the  reformation,  both  by  speech  and  by  the  press. 
His  piety  was  marked  by  simplicity  and  humble  trust.  He  was  an 
example  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  As  a  Presbyterian,  and  especially 
is  a  Presbyterian  elder,  he  was  sincere  and  intelligent  in  his  adoption 


HON. JONATHAN  M  ?  Wl  LLI  AM  S. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES   OF   DECEASED   RULING   ELDERS.  347 

of  the  doctrines  of  the  Confession  of  Faith,  and  the  catechisms,  and 
tolerated  no  departure  from  them,  in  those  who  professed  to  adopt 
them.  It  was  always  known  where  Judge  McWilliams  would  be 
found  when  matters  of  doctrine  were  involved.  And  he  was  true  to 
the  State  as  he  was  to  the  Church.  He  was  eminently  patriotic.  He 
lived  through  the  late  civil  war  in  behalf  of  the  Union.  He  at  once 
took  the  part  of  the  Government,  and  gave  his  youngest  son  to  the 
army,  who  was  killed  at  Antietam.  More  young  men  volunteered 
from  Judge  McWilliams'  immediate  neighborhood,  and  more  of 
them  fell  in  the  service,  than  from  any  district  of  the  same  amount  of 
population  in  any  part  of  the  State.  The  following  extracts  are  taken 
from  a  copy  of  the  Huntingdon  Globe,  published  two  weeks  after  his 
death : 

"  He  had  lived  his  threescore  and  ten,  and  they,  were  years  of  industry 
and  usefulness,  to  himself,  to  his  Maker,  and  to  his  fellow-men.  Few  men 
took  as  active  a  part  in  the  temperance  reformation,  which  originated  in 
this  country  in  his  younger  days,  and  with  which  he  at  once  became  con- 
nected, and  fought  manfully  against  great  opposition,  and  when  none  (few) 
were  found  to  aid  him." 

Again,  "He  was  not  only  a  philanthropist,  but  a  patriot.  During  the 
rebellion  his  voice  and  pen  were  alike  active  in  diffusing  the  spirit  of  patri- 
otism, and  his  appeals  were  earnest  and  soul-inspiring.  He  had  many 
friends,  for  he  had  befriended  many  ;  and  they,  with  us,  will  revere  the 
memory  of  his  acts  of  kindness  and  devotion." 

Judge  McWilliams  raised  a  family  of  sons  and  daughters,  all  of 
whom  while  living  were  members  of  the  church,  save  one ;  and  one  of 
whom  became  an  elder  of  a  Presbyterian  church,  efficient  and 
beloved,  but  was  removed  by  death  shortly  after  the  decease  of  hi* 
father. 

Judge  McWilliams'  death  was  rather  unexpected  at  the  time  it 
occurred.  The  sickness  that  took  him  away  was  only  of  five  days 
duration.  But  the  subject  of  death  was  not  unfamiliar  to  him.  Long 
before  his  departure,  the  prospect  of  his  own  leaving  was  a  topic  of 
frequent  conversation.  He  always  talked  calmly  of  it.  Death  had 
no  terrors  for  him.  He  knew  in  whom  he  had  believed.  The  sick- 
ness of  which  he  died  was  the  only  sickness  of  his  long  life.  He  died 
at  McVeytown,  Pa.,  September  2,  1870,  in  the  seventy-third  year  of 
Ids  age. 


MR.   JOSEPH  GILLILAND, 


ME.  JOSEPH  GILLILAND  was  a  native  of  this  country,  though  of 
Scotch-Irish  descent.  His  father,  James  Gilliland,  came  from 
Ereland,  and  settled  in  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  before  the  Rev- 
olutionary war.  He  served  as  a  soldier  under  Washington,  and  died 
before  the  termination  of  the  war  from  exposure  and  fatigue  in  bat- 
tling for  the  independence  of  the  country.  He  was  a  strictly  reli- 
gious and  pious  man,  and  said  to  have  been  an  elder  of  the  Presby- 
terian church. 

Joseph  Gilliland,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  within  the 
bounds  of  Fogg's  Manor  church,  Chester  county,  November  4,  1770. 
tie  married  May  1,  1794,  in  Chester  county,  Miss  Catharine  Cowdon; 
and  removed  to  Penns  Valley,  Centre  county,  in  1805,  where  he  imme- 
diately united  with  the  Sinking  Creek  Presbyterian  church,  then 
under  care  of  the  Rev.  William  Stuart.  He  was  elected  an  elder  of 
this  church  in  1815,  in  which  capacity  he  continued  to  serve  till  his 
death  with  great  acceptance. 

Mr.  Gilliland  was  highly  esteemed  as  a  citizen,  as  well  as  promi- 
nent in  the  church.  In  1823  he  was  elected  a  county  commissioner, 
in  which  office  he  served  for  the  term  of  three  years.  He  was  also 
prominent  in  the  management  of  township  affairs ;  and  was  the  coun- 
sellor and  friend  of  the  widow  and  the  fatherless.  His  business,  the 
greater  part  of  his  life,  was  farming.  A  son,  writing  of  his  parents, 
says : 

"My  father  and  my  mother  both  having  had  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterian 
training,  adhered  to  it  strictly  in  the  training  of  their  children.  The 
child  as  soon  as  it  could  lisp  was  taught  the  Mother's  Catechism,  Apostles' 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    RULING     ELDERS.  349 

Creed,  and  talked  to  about  God  and  the  Saviour  ;  and  as  soon  as  he  could 
read,  was  required  to  commit  to  memory  the  Shorter  Catechism  ;  and 
every  Sabbath  evening,  a  part  of  the  religious  exercises  was  to  answer  the 
questions.  I  do  not  think  that  so  long  as  I  remained  at  home,  a  Sabbath 
ever  passed  without  having  this  attended  to." 

Mrs.  Gtilliland,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Gtilliland,  died,  July  18,  1830, 
and  in  1840,  Mv.  Gtilliland  died  mi  his  farm  at  Egg  Hill,  Centre 
county,  in  the  seventy-first  year  of  his  age.  They  were  the  parents 
of  eleven  children — seven  sons  and  four  daughters ;  of  whom  four 
sons  are  still  living,  and  two  of  them  are  elders  in  the  Presbyte- 
rian  church. 


HON.  WILLIAM  M'CAT. 


MR.  McCAY  was  born  in  Scotland,  but  while  yet  a  child  his 
father  removed  to  Claugher,  County  Tyixme,  Ireland.  There 
he  spent  his  youthful  days.  He  came  to  this  country  in  1801, 
landing  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  married  in  1803.  He  came  to 
Tuscarora  Valley,  Juniata  county  (then  Mifflin  county,)  in  1804, 
where  he  enjoyed  the  ministry  of  that  excellent  man,  the  Rev.  John 
Coulter,  and  in  1810  removed  to  Lewistown,  where  he  connected 
himself  with  the  Presbyterian  church,  then  about  settling  as  its 
pastor  the  Rev.  William  Kennedy.  He  was  elected  and  ordained 
an  elder  in  said  congregation  in  1811  or  1812.  He  was  a  man 
universally  respected  for  his  strictly  religious  character,  conscien- 
tiousness, intelligence,  and  public  spirit.  He  was  a  leading  spirit 
in  the  church,  in  the  town,  and  in  the  community  generally. 
Brought  up  in  the  strictest  principles  of  the  faith  and  practice  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  he  carried  them  out  in  his  life  to  an  ex- 
tent that  would  now  be  considered  righteous  over  much.  He 
would  permit  nothing  to  be  done  in  his  house  on  the  Sabbath  day 
that  could  have  been  foreseen  on  the  day  before,  and  provided  for, 
and  which  was  not  absolutely  indispensible.  He  would  permit  no 
victuals  to  be  cooked,  or  dishes  to  be  washed  on  the  Sabbath.  To 
boil  the  tea  kettle,  and  make  a  cup  of  tea,  with  the  setting  on  the 
table  the  cold  victuals  prepared  on  Saturday,  was  the  amount  of 
work  he  would  permit  in  his  house  on  the  Sabbath  day.  And  his 
life  during  the  week,  in  his  intercourse  and  business  with  the  world, 
was  in  accordance  with  his  sanctification  of  the  Sabbath.  How 
would  these  old  Presbyterian  fathers,  could  they  rise  from  the  grave, 
be  surprised  at  the  extreme  looseness  of  their  children  in  regard 
to  the  sanctification  of  the  Sabbath.  Mr.  McCay,  as  a  member  of  the 
church,  and  especially  as  an  elder,  was  the  unfailing  reliance  of  his 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    RULING    ELDERS.  351 

pastor.  In  all  matters  of  doctrine  or  of  discipline,  lie  was  as  the 
right  hand  of  the  pastor.  No  member  of  the  session  had  more,  or 
even  so  much  influence  as  Mr.  McCay,  and  it  was  always  exerted  to 
sustain  the  pastor,  and  the  peace  and  purity  of  the  church.  As  a 
citizen  he  was  no  less  prominent  and  efficient.  The  town  of  Lewis- 
town,  of  which  he  was  long  its  chief  burgess,  owed  most  of  its 
public  improvements  to  his  foresight,  prudence,  and  diligence.  He 
was  known  and  honored  as  a  citizen  beyond  the  limits  of  the  town, 
and  even  the  county,  in  which  he  lived.  He  was  a  patriot,  and 
at  the  time  of  the  war  of  1812,  raised  a  company  for  the  service 
of  the  country,  and  received  a  military  commission  from  Governor 
Snvder — marched  towards  the  front,  but  the  war  ended  before  he 
was  called  to  any  active  service  as  a  soldier.  He  was  made  a  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  by  Governor  Heister,  a  notary  public  by  Governor 
Wolf,  and  associate  judge  of  Mifflin  county,  by  Governor  Porter. 
Who  will  not  more  appreciate  the  memory  of  these  excellent  Gov- 
ernors, that  they  were  capable  of  honoring  the  character  of  this 
excellent  man  and  citizen?  He  who  was  so  faithful  to  his  God, 
could  not  but  be  conscientious  in  any  trust  committed  to  his  hands. 
Judge  McCay  died  at  Lewistown,  December  13,  1841,  in  the  63d 
year  of  his  age.  His  family,  so  far  as  known  to  the  writer,  con- 
sisted of  two  sons  and  one  daughter,  who  lived  to  maturity.  His 
eldest  son  died  before  his  father ;  and  the  younger  became  a  min- 
ister of  the  gospel,  in  connection  with  the  Presbyterian  church ; 
settled  soon  after  his  licensure  in  Clarion  county,  Pa.  ;  volunteered 
as  a  chaplain  during  the  war  of  the  rebellion  ;  and  died  at  Lewis- 
town  on  his  way  home  from  the  army,  in  1862,  of  disease  contracted 
in  the  service.  The  Rev.  David  McCay,  of  Clarion  county,  was  a 
son  worthy  of  his  parentage.  He  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  of 
the  church  in  Clarion  county,  which  he  served  with  unabated  acept- 
ance  till  the  last. 

The  following  letter  was  written  by  an  early  friend  of  the  Rev. 
David  McCay,  sometime  after  the  notice  of  his  death  reached  him. 
It  is  dated — Btjell's  army,  near  Cumberland  river,  Tennessee  : 

"  It  is  witli  profound  Borrow  that  in  this  far-off  country,  I  have  read 
the  obituary  notice  of  the  Rev.  David  McCay.  And  I  cannot  but  ask 
the  privilege  of  saying  one  word  in  memory  of  a  man,  who,  perhaps,  above 
all  others  within  the  circle  of  my  acquaintance,  led  a  spotless  and  blame- 
less life.     Amiable  in  his  disposition,  and  possessing  a  mind  of  high    order, 


352  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    RULING    ELDERS. 

he.  early  in  life  was  looked  up  to  by  his  companions  as  a  counsellor,  guide 
and  friend.  The  few  of  his  school  fellows  and  playmates  of  the  Juniata, 
that  are  left,  will  remember  with  lively  gratification  the  many  kind  acts  of 
friendship  bestowed  upon  them  by  their  departed  friend ;  and  that  while 
they  had  sparring  and  occasionally  childish  quarrels,  yet  never  with  David 
McCat.  His  gravity  of  deportment,  and  equanimity  of  temper  never 
carried  him  into  excitements,  or  lured  him  into  the  paths  of  mischief. 
Others  may  have  tasted  the  fruits  of  their  neighbor's  garden  without  the 
owner's  permission,  or  the  watermelon  that  could  only  be  had  by  a  viola- 
tion of  one  of  God's  commandments,  but  which  too  often  is  looked  upon  as 
a  youthful  indiscretion,  but  none  of  them  by  the  subject  of  this  article. 
Religion  in  early  life  had  taken  fast  hold  upon  him.  The  example 
of  a  father,  who,  if  he  erred  at  all,  it  was  by  his  rigid  adherence  to 
the  gospel  truths,  which  he  did  with  almost  puritanical  rigor ;  or  of  a 
mother,  who,  with  christian  meekness,  lay  for  long  years  prostrate  on  a 
bed  of  sickness,  had  its  influence  in  forming  the  character  of  this  most 
i>timable  man. 

Forty  years  since,  or  more,  there  was  but  little  church  service  of  any 
kind  in  Lewistown,  other  than  which  was  held  in  the  old  court  house ; 
that  quaint  old  edifice  that  stood  in  the  centre  of  the  public  square.  Here, 
on  each  Sabbath  morning  might  be  seen  those  venerated  fathers  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  Mr.  Walters,  Mr.  McCat,  and  Mr.  Eobison,  and 
indeed  nearly  the  whole  town,  wending  their  way  to  hear  the  Kev.  Mr. 
Kennedy  preach  from  the  judge's  bench  ;  and  here  was  the  rite  of  baptism 
performed  on  David  McCat.  And  in  long  after  years,  when  the  Kev- 
erend  gentleman,  by  an  appeal  to  be  received  into  the  ministry  of  the 
church,  from  which  he  had  been  suspended  for  many  years,  young  McCat, 
then  but  recently  in  the  ministry,  sat  as  one  of  his  judges.  In  describing 
the  scene  to  the  writer,  he  spoke  of  it  as  one  that  caused  in  his  breast  emo- 
tions singularly  painful,  and  yet  gratifying,  that  his  first  pastor,  then  a 
penitent  man,  could,  by  his  vote,  be  restored  to  the  ministry,  and  could 
again  go  forth  to  preach  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  That  vote  was  given, 
and  that  old  man  lived  to  call  him  blessed ;  and  he  once  more  returned  to- 
the  town,  where  he  had  so  long  ministered,  to  find  many  changes,  and 
•ome  of  them,  alas  !  how  sad. 

That  the  subject  of  our  sketch  took  a  lively  interest  in  the  success  of  our 
arms,  I  can  readily  believe  ;  and  the  fact  that  he  followed  the  army  of  his 
country  to  the  tented  field,  that  he  might  minister  to  his  dying  country- 
men, spoke  of  a  heart  in  the  right  place. 

Few  ever  passed  to  the  tomb  so  well  prepared  to  meet  a  righteous  Judge 
at  the  last  great  day,  and  may  the  influence  of  his  example  be  felt  in  long 
after  years.  Those  of  his  schoolfellows  who  survive  him,  will  remember 
how  excellent  he  was  in  his  class,  how  he  excelled  in  his  studies,  and  how 
readily  he  drank  in  knowledge.     If  by  his  weak  voice  he  failed  to  attract 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES   OF    DECEASED   RULING    ELDERS.  353 

the  attention  of  the  lover  of  rhetorical  display,  yet  he  never  failed  to 
attract  the  interest  of  the  attentive  listener,  as  his  discourses  were  clear  and 
methodical,  evincing  a  mind  of  no  common  order.  His  was  not  that  of  an 
empty  huhble,  but  a  depth  of  learning  that  to  be  appreciated,  should  be 
heard  and  studied  with  deep  attention. 

Farewell,  friend  of  my  boyhood  days.  Your  spirit  has  found  an  eternal 
rest,  and  if  in  that  unknown  world,  you  are  permitted  to  raise  your  voice  in 
praise,  that  youthful  voice  that  sweetly  sang  in  the  old  stone  church,  wa> 
but  a  prelude  of  your  heavenly  music."' 

Died, in  this  place,  (Lewistown,  Pa.,)  at  the  residence  of  Major  M.  Buoy, 
his  brother-in-law,  on  the  4th  day  of  June  A.  D.,  1862,  Kev.  David 
MEcCat,  of  Callensburg,  Clarion  county,  lately  Chaplain  of  103d  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  (Colonel  Lehman,)  aged  44  years,  2  months,  and 
18  days. 

Mr.  McCay  contracted  the  disease  of  which  he  died,  (typhoid  fever,) 
through  exposure  in  camp  beyond  Williamsburg,  Va.,  soon  after  the 
battle  at  that  place.  His  remains  were  taken  to  Callensburg  for 
interment  among  his  parishoners,  where  he  was  greatly  beloved  as  a 
pastor.  Callensburg  was  his  first  and  only  charge  after  he  entered 
the  ministry,  a  vocation  which  he  adorned  in  life. 


HON.   EPHRAIM  BANKS. 


MR.  BANKS  was  born  in  Lost  Creek  Valley,  then  a  part  of  Mifflin 
county,  now  Juniata,  January  17,  1791.  He  came  to  Lewistown 
in  1817,  and  was  appointed  prothonotary  by  governor  Findley  in  1818, 
serving  three  years,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  law  at  Lewistown 
in  1823.  He  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  successively  in  the  years 
1826,  1827  and  1828.  Mr.  Banks  was  a  member,  by  election,  of  the 
Reform  Convention  which  assembled  at  Harrisburg,  May  2,  1837,  and 
which  framed  the  present  constitution  of  Pennsylvania ;  adopting  it 
finally  at  its  sessions  in  Philadelphia,  February  22,  1838.  He  was 
elected  auditor  general  of  the  State  in  1850,  and  re-elected  in  1853, 
serving  six  years ;  and  finally  was  elected  associate  judge  of  Mifflin 
county  in  1866,  which  office  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  at  his  residence  in  Lewistown,  January  6,  1871,  aged  four- 
score years,  lacking  eleven  days.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  the  fol- 
lowing notice  of  Judge  Banks  was  written  by  the  editor  of  the  Lewis- 
town  True  Democrat :  * 

"For  more  than  half  a  century  Judge  Banks  was  one  of  the  leading- 
men  of  Lewistown  ;  and  no  man  ever  stood  higher  in  public  esteem,  or 
commanded  more  generally  the  respect  of  his  contemporaries. 

Though  an  ardent  democrat,  and  always  firm  in  his  political  convictions, 
public  confidence  in  his  personal  integrity,  and  qualifications  for  responsible 
positions,  was  such  that,  when  before  the  people  as  a  candidate  for  office,  he 
invariably  received  a  very  large  support  from  members  of  the  opposing 
party.  His  walk  and  conversation  everywhere,  and  at  all  times,  were  be- 
fitting his  character  as  a  christian  gentleman.  In  every  sphere  of  life  he 
occupied  a  high  position,  whether  as  a  citizen,  or  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church." 

But  Judge  Bank's  life  as  a  christian  and  a  ruling  elder  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  is  most  in  accordance  with  our  design   to  record. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES   OF    DECEASED    RULING    ELDERS.  355 

He  united  with  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Mifflintown,  then  under 
the  care  of  the  Eev.  John  Hltcheson  as  pastor,  in  1814,  being  then  in 
the  twenty-third  year  of  his  age.  As  already  stated,  he  removed  to 
Lewistown  in  1817,  where  he  became  connected  with  the  Presbyterian 
church,  then  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  William  Kennedy.'  What 
time  lie  was  elected  to  the  eldership  is  not  now  certainly  known,  as 
the  records  of  that  church 'previous  to  1829  are  lost,  but  he  was  an 
elder  at  that  time,  and  the  probability  is  that  he  was  elected  and  or- 
dained an  elder  in  1823,  or  1824.  He  often  represented  the  church 
in  the  meetings  of  Presbytery,  and  as  often,  perhaps,  as  any  other 
elder,  represented  the  Presbytery  in  the  meetings  of  the  General 
Assembly.  He  represented  the  Presbytery  in  the  General  Assemblies 
of  1832-35—18  and  55;  and  how  many  times  besides,  we  do  not  know  : 
and  he  was  no  inefficient  member  of  church  judicatories;  his  opin- 
ions were  always  looked  for  and  respected,  and  he  was  always  ap- 
pointed on  the  most  important  committees.  In  the  church  at  home, 
he  was  always  as  the  pastor's  right  hand.  According  to  his  Scotch- 
Irish  Presbyterian  training,  he  was  firmly  settled  in  the  well-known 
doctrines  of  the  Confession  of  Faith  and  Catechisms  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church.  In  the  times  that  tried  the  faith  and  patience  of  the 
church,  Judge  Banks  was  immovable  in  adhering  to,  and  defending 
the  good  old  ways  in  which  the  fathers  walked,  and  the  doctrines  in 
which  he  had  been  taught,  To  the  eldership  of  the  church  in  gen- 
eral, and  to  such  as  Mr.  Banks  in  particular,  the  church  is  greatly  in- 
debted for  passing  safely  through  the  scenes  of  trouble  from  1830  till 
they  culminated  in  division  in  1838.  He  lived,  however,  to  see  the 
wide  breach  healed. 

Judge  Banks  was  not  only  faithful  in  his  position  as  an  elder  of  the 
church,  bnt  refused  not  the  humblest  service,  by  which  he  could  pro 
mote  the  cause  of  the  Master.  He  was  a  diligent  and  faithful  teacher 
in  the  Sabbath-School,  till  the  infirmities  of  age  compelled  him  to 
desist,  and  also  shut  him  out  from  attendance  on  the  public  worship 
of  the  sanctuary;  which  was  the  greatest  grievance  of  the  last  year, 
or  years  of  his  life. 

"  He  died  as  only  a  christian  can  die."  After  a  long  life  of  useful- 
ness on  earth,  reaching  even  beyond  the  age  generally  allotted  to 
men.  his  spirit  passed  away  quietly,  its  departure  not  even  being 
marked  by  a  struggle. 

Immediately  upon  his  death  the  members  of  the  c&unty  court  held 


356  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    RULING    ELDERS. 

a  meeting,  and  passed  appropriate  resolutions,  of  which  our  limits 
will  only  allow  us  to  copy  two  : 

" Resolvedj'Tfh&t  Judge  Banks  possessed  social  qualities  of  the  highest 
order.  He  was  kind,  gentle,  and  courteous,  and  a  warm  and  true  friend. 
But  the  crowning  glory  of  his  character  was,  that  he  was  a  sincere  and 
devoted  christian,  and  an  humble  yet  earnest  follower  of  the  Divine 
Master. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  court,  with  its  officers  and  members  of  the  bar,  pro- 
ceed in  a  body  to  attend  the  funeral  of  the  deceased."     . 

The  funeral  took  place  on  the  Monday  following  his  death.  As  a 
token  of  respect  for  the  deceased,  the  banks,  stores,  and  other  public 
business  of  the  town  were  all  closed  while  the  funeral  ceremonies 
were  being  performed. 


^C^O^^^ 


HON.   HUGH  K   M'ALLISTER 


HON.  HUGH  N.  McALLISTER  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent ;  his 
great  grandfather  having  emigrated  from  Ireland  to  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  about  the  year  1730.  His  grandfather,  Major  Hugh  Mc- 
Allister, was  born  in  Little  Britain  township,  Lancaster  county,  in 
1736.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Captain  Forbes'  company  in  the 
Indian  war  of  1763,  and  served  faithfully  until  the  close  of  hostilities. 
During  the  darkest  hour  of  the  revolutionary  struggle,  Hugh  McAll- 
ister was  the  first  man  to  volunteer  as  a  private,  to  form  a  company 
for  the  purpose  of  reinforcing  the  shattered  army  of  Washington. 
This  company  was  raised  in  Lost  Creek  Valley,  now  Juniata  county, 
and  was  commanded  by  Captain  John  Hamilton,  the  father  of 
Hugh  Hamilton,  Esq.,  of  Harrisburg.  The  company  joined  the 
army  of  Washington  the  day  after  the  capture  of  the  Hessians  at 
Trenton.  Hugh  McAllister  was  successively  promoted  to  be  lieu- 
tenant, captain  and  major.  Towards  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  in 
command  of  the  forces  stationed  at  Potter's  Fort,  Centre  county, 
and  commanded  an  expedition  sent  to  punish  the  Indians  for  depre- 
dations committed  near  the  Great  Island,  where  the  city  of  Lock 
Haven  now  stands.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  Major  McAllister 
retired  to  his  farm  in  Lost  Creek  Valley.  He  was  married  to  Sarah 
Nelson,  and  raised  a  large  family.  Hon.  Willam  McAllister,  son 
of  Major  H.  McAllister  and  Sarah  Nelson,  was  born  on  the  farm 
of  his  father  in  Lost  Creek  Valley,  in  August,  A.  D.,  1774.  He 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812 ;  and  was,  for  a  long  time, 
one  of  the  associate  judges  of  Juniata  county.  He  was  married  to 
Sarah  Thompson. 

Hugh  N.  McAllister,  eldest  son  of  Hon.  William  McAllister 
and  Sarah  Thompson,  was  born  on  the  farm  owned  by  his  father  and 
grandfather,   in  Lost  Creek   Valley,  Juniata   county,    Pa.,    June   28, 


358  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    RULING    ELDERS. 

1809.  He  lived  at  home  and  worked  upon  his  father's  farm  during  his 
minority,  receiving  such  elementary  education  as  the  schools  of  the 
neighborhood  afforded.  He  received  his  instructions  in  the  rudi- 
ments of  the  classics  from  Rev.  John  Hutcheson,  pastor  of  the  church 
of  Mifflin  and  Lost  Creek.  He  entered  the  freshman  class  at  Jeffer- 
son College,  Canonsburg,  in  1830,  and  stood  so  high  before  the  end 
of  the  year  as  to  be  chosen  by  his  society  as  one  of  its  debaters, 
which  honor,  however,  his  modesty  and  timidity  induced  him  to  de- 
cline. He  graduated  in  1833,  high  in  a  class  in  which  were  many 
more,  since  distinguished  in  the  church  and  State.  As  soon  as  he 
(Mr.  McAllister)  graduated,  he  commenced  the  study  of  the  law  in 
the  office  of  Hon.  W.  W.  Potter,  in  Bellefonte.  After  completing  the 
ordinary  course  of  studies  pursued  by  students  in  an  office,  he 
attended  a  law  school,  then  conducted  at  Carlisle,  by  Hon.  John 
Reed,  president  judge  of  that  district,  and  author  of  "Pennsylvania 
"Rlackstone."'  In  1835  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  several 
courts  of  Centre  county  ;  and  was  at  once  taken  into  full  partnership 
with  Mr.  Potter,  and  the  election  of  the  latter  to  Congress  soon 
after  threw  at  once  the  whole  labor  and  responsibility  of  an  extensive 
law  practice  upon  the  young  partner.  The  early  death  of  Mr.  Potter 
while  in  Congress,  left  Mr.  McAllister  alone  in  the  practice,  to  com- 
pete with  one  of  the  ablest  bars  in  the  State.  As  a  counsellor  he  was 
always  discreet,  careful,  and  safe.  As  an  attorney  he  was  faithful, 
honest,  and  industrious.  As  an  advocate  he  was  earnest,  zealous, 
and  at  times,  i  lipressively  eloquent.  He  would  embark  in  no  man's 
cause  unless  thoroughly  impressed  with  its  justice,  and  then  he  battled 
as  only  a  man  of  his  temperament  could  battle  for  the  right. 

During  the  late  war  Mr.  McAllister  was  one  of  the  most  earnest 
and  zealous  supporters  of  the  administration.  He  was  ever  fore- 
most in  contributing  means  and  performing  work  to  secure  A^olun- 
teers,  and  in  supporting  the  families  of  those  who  were  in  the  service. 
Although  far  beyond  the  age  when  men  are  relieved  from  military 
duty,  he  raised  a  full  company  by  his  almost  unaided  exertions,  was 
elected  its  captain,  went  into  service,  and  continued  till  his  place 
could  be  filled  by  a  younger  man. 

Mr.  McAllister  never  held  many  public  offices.  On  several  occa- 
sions, by  different  Governors,  he  was  offered  president  judgeships,  but 
always  declined.  At  the  Republican  convention  held  for  the  pur- 
pose of  nominating  delegates  at  large  to  the  convention  to  reform 
the  State  constitution,  Mr.  McAllister  was  one  of  the  fourteen  nora- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    RULING    ELDERS.  359 

mated;  and  the  nomination  was  equivalent  to  an  election.  He 
entered  upon  his  work  with  the  energy  and  zeal  which  ever,  charac- 
terized him.  Unfortunately  he  did  not  limit  his  labor  to  his  phys- 
ical capacity  to  endure  it.  Towards  the  close  of  the  Winter,  his 
strength  gave  way  under  incessant  toil,  and  he  was  compelled  by 
his  physicians  to  return  home  to  rest. 

After  remaining  at  home  for  a  few  weeks,  and  his  health  being 
in  some  measure  recruited,  he  returned  to  the  convention  at  Phila- 
delphia, and  at  once  engaged  arduously  in  its  labors.  He  had 
over  estimated  his  strength,  for  his  intense  labor  brought  on  the 
disease,  which  in  a  few  days  terminated  his  earthly  career.  He 
died  at  his  boarding  house  in  Philadelphia,  May  5,  1873,  in  the 
sixty-fourth  year  of  his  age.  Upon  the  announcement  of  his  death 
by  the  President,  the  convention  adjourned  till  the  following  day  ; 
when  appropriate  resolutions  were  offered  and  passed  in  relation 
to  the  sad  event;  and  glowing  eulogies  on  the  character  of  the 
deceased,  were  pronounced  by  many  members  of  the  convention, 
and  a  committee  of  seven  appointed  to  accompany  the  body  to  its 
home  in  Bellefonte,  and  attend  the  funeral.  At  a  meeting  of  the 
Bellefonte  bar,  and  members  of  the  bars  of  Clinton,  Clearfield,  and 
Huntingdon  counties,  suitable  resolutions  were  adopted  expressive  of 
their  sense  of  the  great  loss  which  they  had  sustained,  in  common 
with  the  community,  the  church,  and    the  State. 

As  a  citizen  Mr.  McAllister  was  always  enterprising,  public 
spirited,  and  patriotic.  He  was  one  of  the  projectors,  the  constant 
friends  and  liberal  supporters  of  the  Agricultui-al  College  of  Penn- 
sylvania, now  the  Pennsylvania  State  College.  He  was  a  friend  of 
the  common  schools,  academies,  and  seminaries,  as  well  as  Sunday 
-clmols.  For  many  years  he  was  the  recognized  head  of  the  organi- 
zation in  the  county  for  the  promotion  of  temperance.  As  a  neigh- 
bor, he  was  ever  considerate,  obliging  and  liberal.  As  a  man,  he  was 
just,  ujn'ight,  and  inflexibly  honest.  As  a  christian,  he  was  sincere, 
faithful  and  most  exemplary.  For  a  long  time  he  was  not  only  a 
member,  but  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Bellefonte  ;  and 
took  an  active  part  in  the  labors  of  the  Session,  Presbyteries,  and 
General  Assemblies.  If  he  was  not  the  originator  of  the  scheme  of 
ministerial  sustentation,  he  was  a  very  active  friend  to  it.  He  was 
the  chairman  of  the  committee  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  on 
sustentation,  at  the  time  of  his  death.  The  death  of  Mr.  McAllister 
was  as  much  a  loss  to  the  church  as  it  was  to  the  State. 


360      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  DECEASED  RULING  ELDERS. 

Mr.  McAllister  was  twice  married — first  to  Henrietta  Ashman 
Orbison  of  Huntingdon,  Pa.,  (sister  of  James  H.  Orbison,  the  Foreign 
missionary,)  by  whom  he  had  seven  children,  four  of  whom  died  in 
infancy  ;  and  one,  a  daughter,  died  in  1866,  at  the  age  of  twenty. 
Two  daughters,  Mary  A.,  the  wife  of  Gen.  James  A.  Beaver,  and 
Sarah  B.,  wife  of  Dr.  Thomas  R.  Hayes,  both  of  Bellefonte,  survive 
their  father.  The  first  Mrs.  McAllister  died  April  12,  1857  ;  and 
on  September  the  12,  1859,  Mr.  McAllister  married  Margaret  Ham- 
ilton of  Harrisburg,  a  granddaughter  of  Captain  John  Hamilton, 
under  whom  his  grandfather  served  in  the  revolution,  and  daughter 
of  Hugh  Hamilton.  By  this  second  marriage  Mr.  McAllister  had 
no  children. 

Mr.  McAllister  was  a  remarkable  man  for  his  energy,  industry,  and 
indomitable  perseverance.  It  was  well  for  society  that  his  purposes 
were  all  guided  and  controlled  by  moral  virtue,  patriotism,  and  re- 
ligion. He  never  yielded  to  difficulties  or  discouragements  in  any 
cause  which  he  undertook.  His  perseverance  in  regard  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  Agricultural  College,  is  proof  of  this  trait  in  his  char- 
acter. If  any  cause  failed  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  McAllister,  it  was 
simply  because  success  was  absolutely  impossible.  His  conscientious 
devotion,  and  laborious  application  to  any  work  which  he  undertook, 
and  especially  to  his  last  great  work  and  trust,  hastened  the  utter 
breaking  down  of  a  constitution  already  enfeebled  by  former  labors. 
The  sketch  of  his  life  may  be  closed  with  the  concluding  sentence  of 
a  speech  of  Ex- Judge  Samuel  Linn,  at  the  time  of  his  burial — "Now 
may  we  say  of  him,  in  view  of  his  life,  in  view  of  his  virtues,  and  in 
view  of  the  manner  in  which  he  discharged  every  .duty  belonging  to 
him,  '  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant.'  '' 


JUDGE  JOSEPH  KYLE. 


THE  father  of  Judge  Kyle  was  probably  of  foreign  birth.     He  set- 
tled in  Kishacoquillas  Valley  in  1767,  near  to  the  present  site  of 
the  town  of  Milroy,  Mifflin  county,  Pa.     His  family  then  consisted  of 
his  wife  and  one  daughter.     All  his  household  effects  were  carried  on 
horseback  to   the  cabin  which  he  had  built  for  the  temporary  accom- 
modation of  his  family.     The  subject  of  the  present  sketch  was  born 
there  in  1781.     His   advantages  in  early  life  of  education  were  very 
limited,  being  only  a  few  months   in   a  country  school  during  the 
winter   season.     His   father    being   a     member   of    the    Presbyterian 
Church,  he  was  trained  very  strictly  in  its  doctrines  and  discipline. 
His  father's  name,  John  Kyle,  appears  on  that  famous  call  presented 
by  the   East  Kishacoquillas   church  to  the  Eev.  James  Johnston  in 
1783.     At  what  period  of  his  life  Judge  Kyle  connected  himself  with 
the  church  by  a  public    profession  is  not  definitely  known,  but  it  was 
early  in  life.      In  due  time  he  married,  and,  in  the  course  of  years, 
became  the  head  of  a  numerous  family  of  sons  and  daughters.     In 
1830  he  was  chosen  an  elder  of  the  church  in  which  he  was  born  and 
nurtured.      By  his  father  he  was  faithfully  instructed  in  Westminster 
<  lonfession,  and  the  Catechisms  Larger  and  Shorter,  and  intelligently 
received  them  in  mature  years,  and  zealously,  in  his  place,  defended 
them.     He  was  very  careful  in  the  religious  instruction  of  his  own 
family.     The  Sabbath  afternoons  and  evenings  were  always  thus  em- 
ployed,  unless   providential    circumstances   prevented.     The  Shorter 
Catechism  had  to  be  repeated  by  every  member  of  the  family,  who 
had  arrived  at   years  capable  of  so  doing,  on  each  Sabbath  evening. 
And  he  was  a  very  strict  observer  of  the  sacred  hours  of  the  Lord's 
day,  permitting  no  secular  work  to  be  done  on  that  day,  but  such  as 
were  of  absolute  necessity  or  mercy.     It  was  no  doubt  his  intelligeni 
attachment  to  the  doctrines  of  the  Church,  and  his  practical  conform- 

47 


362  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    DECEASED    RULING    ELDERS. 

ity  to  its  precepts,  that  pointed  him  out  to  his  brethren  of  the  con- 
gregation as  a  suitable  person  to  bear  rule  in  the  house  of  God. 

But  he  was  not  only  esteemed  and  honored  in  the  Church,  but  also 
in  civil  life.  He  was  three  successive  terms  chosen  to  represent  the 
county  of  Mifflin  in  the  State  Legislature;  and  held  the  honorable 
office  of  associate  judge  of  the  county  for  a  series  of  years. 

Mr.  Kyle  will  be  long  remembered  in  Mifflin  county  for  his  kind- 
ness as  a  citizen,  and  his  irreproachable  character  as  a  man  of  God. 
He  was  a  man  of  inquiring  mind,  sound  and  discriminating  judgment. 
Eesolute  of  will,  and  keen  foresight,  fitted  him  to  act  in  all  he  under- 
took with  great  decision  and  energy  of  character,  and  with  equal 
success.  Whether  in  the  private  character  of  a  citizen,  or  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Church ;  or  in  his  public  relations  as  an  elder,  legislator,  or 
judge,  his  conscientious  deportment  and  judicious  counsels  begat 
confidence,  and  commanded  respect.  He  combined  worldly  industry 
with  christian  liberality,  and  was  therefore  permitted  to  see  his  chil- 
dren comfortably  settled  before  his  death.  He  died  on  the  farm,  and 
within  a  few  rods  of  the  place  in  which  he  was  born,  February  8,  1861, 
in  the  80th  year  of  his  age. 

As  before  intimated,  Judge  Kyle  was  familiar  with  the  Scriptures, 
and  the  system  of  doctrine  and  form  of  government  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  His  piety  was  humble  and  unassuming,  leading  him 
very  often  to  pray  in  the  language  of  the  Publican,  "God  be  merciful 
to  me  a  sinner;"  and  to  feel  his  chief  encouragement  to  be,  that 
"Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners.''  But  the  best 
proof  of  his  consistent  piety  is  that  he  lived  to  see  all  his  family  con- 
sistent professors  of  religion. 


<y 


